Halloween is days away, and candy sales are lagging. Shoppers are stretching budgets hit by higher costs for fuel, housing, food, and clothing.

Sales of Halloween candy dropped 6.7% in the month ending Oct. 17 compared with the same period last year, according to market researcher NielsenIQ. The firm also recorded an 11.7% decline in candy sales in mid-September, wiping out the previous two years’ early-season gains.

NielsenIQ’s Chris Costagli said gasoline prices are a major factor. A gallon of regular averaged $4.29 nationally as of Friday, up nearly 40% from a year ago. Costagli said many shoppers are not simply balking at candy prices. They are running short after paying more for everything else. Large and extra-large bags saw the steepest declines, while small bags were the only size still growing.

Candy has outpaced the broader grocery bill by a wide margin. Government data show candy and gum prices up 44% through September, while prices for all food eaten at home rose 22.5% over five years. Aldi advertised a 135-piece Mars variety pack for $19.87 this week, nearly what a 250-piece pack cost five years ago.

Cocoa is the main driver. Prices hit a record $10,710 per metric ton in January 2025, then fell to $3,241 by March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They started climbing again this spring as the Iran war disrupted fertilizer supplies from Africa. A hot, dry El Niño pattern is expected to pressure production through February.

Cheaper candy hasn’t solved the problem. Non-chocolate Halloween candy averaged $6.08 per pound in the nine weeks ending Oct. 17, about 3% below last year, yet sales did not rise.

Circana’s Sally Lyons Wyatt said shoppers are making smaller, more frequent grocery runs and may be holding off on candy until closer to Halloween. She expects continued softness in candy overall but does not believe Halloween is doomed. The National Confectioners Association, which represents Mars, Smarties Candy Co., and Ferrara Candy Co., said it remains optimistic and that consumer enthusiasm is strong as the peak period begins.

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