If you’re anything like me, this week before Halloween, you’re frantically gathering your costumes, candy, and decorations for parties and trick-or-treating.
Much to my dismay, in my Halloween preparation this weekend, I discovered that the cost of Halloween supplies has greatly increased year over year. I am not alone. Current polling found that 91% of registered voters are “extremely or very concerned about inflation/higher prices.”
The most recent numbers from the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) show this reality. One of the largest increases is Halloween candy, which has risen 7.5% from September 2022 to September 2023. In dollars, according to the National Retail Federation, the average household will spend around $35 on candy this year compared to $30 last year.
Boys’ Halloween costumes have increased by 5.5% during the same time frame. The cost of Halloween candy buckets rose by 2.9%, and the cost of gas for driving around to go trick-or-treating increased by 3%. Additionally, Halloween treats, like cakes, cupcakes, and cookies, are 4.8% more expensive than last year.
This year, due to inflation, I will have to get creative with my homemade 70s costume and construction paper decorations. Many individuals and families will have to do the same to save money. Power Reviews conducted a Halloween-specific study and found that 73% of consumers say that the broader economic environment will impact their Halloween shopping, causing them to look for bargains, use coupons, buy less costly candy, not purchase or purchase fewer decorations, or reuse costumes. Another survey discovered that four in ten grocery shoppers say inflation will influence their ability to buy Halloween candy. This leads us to ask, what’s scarier this Halloween than inflation?
See below for a fun and helpful graphic of price increases in Halloween prices.
