Americans cut spending on candy by Halloween due to rising prices

Sales of Halloween candy in the US are declining due to the rising cost of living and the rise in the price of chocolate. For the month ended October 17, the sale of sweets fell by 6.7% compared to the same period last year, according to the research company Nielsen IQ, the data of which is cited by the Associated Press.

In mid-September, the decline was 11.7%. Thus, the sales growth that preceded the holiday, which was observed for two years, was replaced by a decline.

Chris Costagli, vice president of Nielsen IQ, said U.S. consumers need to spend more on housing, fuel, clothing and food. Because of this, there is less money left to buy holiday treats. On Friday, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the country reached $ 4.29 - almost 40% higher than a year ago.

The most stable demand remains for candy in small packages. Sales of large and especially large sets, on the contrary, are declining the most.

Over the past five years, candy and chewing gum in the United States have risen in price by 44%, while food for home consumption added in price 22.5%. For example, a set of 135 Mars chocolate bars on the Aldi chain sold for $19.87. That's about the same amount five years ago a pack that had 250 bars.

One of the main reasons for the rise in the price of chocolate was the jump in world prices for cocoa. In January 2025, the cost of a ton of raw materials reached a record $10,710. The situation was affected by adverse weather in West Africa, which provides about 70% of the world’s cocoa supply, and speculative activity in the futures market.

By March, the price fell to $3,241 per ton, but in the spring began to rise again. An additional factor was disruptions in the supply of fertilizers amid the conflict with Iran. Risks to the future harvest are also associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which can cause hot and dry weather.

However, more affordable alternatives to chocolate have so far failed to boost demand. The average price of non-chocolade sweets, including marmalade and lollipops, was $6.08 a pound - about 3% less than a year ago. However, sales of these products also did not increase.

Experts suggest that some buyers postpone the purchase of candy until the last days before Halloween. Consumers are increasingly buying small batches of goods just before they are needed.

The National Association of Confectionery Manufacturers of the United States remains optimistic and notes that the main shopping period for the holiday is still ahead.