"Compared to the Halloween season last year, chocolate costs more this year and consumers are buying less of it. Overall candy prices have risen a whopping 78% since 2020, according to an analysis from consumer finance site FinanceBuzz, which tracked candy prices across four major retailers. A 100-piece bulk bag of Halloween candy costs an average of $16.39 in 2025, up from $9.19 in 2020 and $14.06 just one year ago. Those yearly price surges have regularly outpaced inflation, which is already putting shoppers in a pinch."
"In its earnings call Thursday, Hershey noted holiday sales this Halloween were "disappointing" and that it planned to study pricing, pack types and its broader candy lineup "through the lens of the consumer" in light of underwhelming sales. The company, which owns candy brands like Reese's, Kit Kat, and York, raised prices over the summer to cope with the rising cost of cocoa. Because cocoa is a seasonal commodity, companies that rely on it lock in their prices in advance, leading to a lag time between the key ingredient's price fluctuations and what consumers wind up paying in-store for a packaged product."
Cocoa prices remain elevated after last year's spike, increasing the retail cost of chocolate and reducing consumer purchases this Halloween season. Overall candy prices rose 78% since 2020, with a 100-piece bulk bag averaging $16.39 in 2025 versus $9.19 in 2020 and $14.06 in 2024. Those price surges have outpaced inflation and squeezed shoppers. Hershey described holiday sales as disappointing, raised summer prices to cover cocoa costs, and will reassess pricing, pack types and product mix. Cocoa's seasonality forces companies to lock prices in advance, creating a lag between ingredient costs and retail prices. Consumers are shifting toward gummy and hard candies, and U.S. chocolate candy sales dipped 8%.
Read at Fast Company
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