In Biden’s First Halloween In Office, A 100-Piece Bag Of Candy Cost $9.91, A Study Found. This Year It’s $16.96, And Government Data Shows Candy Prices Rose 7.7% In A Year, More Than Double Overall Inflation
Halloween candy prices have climbed far faster than anything else in your shopping cart, and Hershey's latest earnings report reveals exactly why candy makers have little reason to stop raising prices anytime soon.
Trick-or-treaters arrive tomorrow, and filling the bowl by the front door costs more than it used to. Josh Koebert of FinanceBuzz found that a 100-piece bag of assorted Halloween candy averages $16.96 this year. Koebert says that is $7.05 more than in 2021, Biden’s first Halloween in office, when the same 100 pieces cost $9.91. The increase covers two administrations. The 2021 starting point marks the date.
Koebert puts the rise since 2021 at 71%. Koebert compares that with a 22% national inflation rate, though the study does not say which index that figure comes from. Most of the rise is recent. FinanceBuzz’s chart shows $10.49 in 2022 and $11.61 in 2023, followed by increases to $14.06 in 2024 and $16.39 in 2025. Koebert’s figures show the pace slowing this year, with the bag up 3.5%. The study used only full, non-sale prices for bulk bags at Walmart (NASDAQ:WMT | WMT Price Prediction), Target (NYSE:TGT), Kroger (NYSE:KR) and Albertsons (NYSE:ACI), so anyone buying on sale can pay less.
Candy Prices Are Rising at Twice the Overall Inflation Rate
The Bureau of Labor Statistics measures this a different way. Its Consumer Price Index for candy and chewing gum rose 7.7% in the 12 months through September. Prices for all items rose 3.7%, so candy climbed at more than double the overall rate. These are two separate measures. FinanceBuzz tracks the price of specific bags over five years, while the government index tracks a broad category over 12 months, so the two shouldn’t be compared directly.
Candy inflation moderated slightly last month. Fox Business, citing BLS data, reported that candy and gum prices were up 8.1% in August from a year earlier. Overall inflation went the other way: it was 3.4% in the 12 months through August, according to the BLS release of Oct. 14.
Hershey Keeps Raising Prices as Shoppers Buy Less
Hershey (NYSE:HSY) shows why candy prices haven’t come down. In its Oct. 29 earnings release, the company reported about 13 points of net price realization in North America Confectionery. Volume in that segment fell about 11 points, which the company said reflected “price elasticity and normal quarter-to-quarter shipment variability, which more than offset strong seasonal shipments.” Across the whole company, volume fell about 10 points, and net sales rose 3.0% to $3,275.5 million.
Hershey is protecting its margins at the cost of selling fewer pieces. Reported gross margin rose to 46.1% from 32.6%, helped by tariff refunds, cheaper commodities and derivative gains. Adjusted EPS of $2.64 beat the $2.11 consensus. Kirk Tanner, identified as CEO in the release, said: “Our second-half demand creation initiatives are gaining momentum, even as consumers grow more cautious.” Shares were at $165.80 in after-hours trading on Oct. 30, up 1.24% from the Oct. 28 close.
Halloween Spending Holds Near Last Year’s Record
Shoppers keep spending despite higher prices. The National Retail Federation expects total Halloween spending of $13.5 billion, matching or exceeding last year’s record of $13.1 billion. Among people celebrating, 96% plan to buy candy, which the NRF expects to total $4.1 billion. Allison Zeller, the NRF’s vice president of industry and consumer insights, said: “Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind.”
Ways to Spend Less on Candy
- Set a budget first. FinanceBuzz’s first tip is to estimate how many trick-or-treaters you expect and buy only what you need.
- Buy on sale or after the holiday. The FinanceBuzz prices are full retail, so discounts can beat them.
- Compare per-piece prices. Bigger bags aren’t always cheaper per piece. Check the unit price on the shelf tag.
The next Consumer Price Index report comes out on Nov. 10, 2026. It will show whether candy inflation kept cooling in October. Hershey’s fourth-quarter volume will show whether shoppers keep cutting back as prices rise.
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AJ spent 10 years writing about financial markets at The Motley Fool. His coverage centers on technology stocks and the broader macroeconomic trends, from interest rates to geopolitics, that shape where markets are headed next. AJ is drawn to the stories where big-picture economics and individual companies collide.
