NATIONWIDE — Halloween trick-or-treat bags will be lighter and costlier this year, as candy prices have jumped 10.8% compared to last year—nearly quadruple the overall rate of inflation. The surge is being driven primarily by skyrocketing cocoa prices, forcing candy makers to implement “shrinkflation” and other cost-cutting measures.

The price hike continues a trend; Americans spent $7.4 billion on Halloween chocolate and candy in 2024, a 2.2% increase from 2023.

Consumers to See Less Chocolate, More Gummies

With worldwide cocoa futures rising 178% in 2024 due to poor harvests in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, producers are changing how they sell their treats:

Shrinkflation: Consumers can expect less chocolate per package as companies like Hershey adjust their “price pack architecture” t

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