Arabic version: ارتفاع تكاليف حلوى الهالوين مع إقبال المتسوقين على العبوات الأصغر

According to Cnbc, higher cocoa and sugar prices are making Halloween more expensive, while consumers are responding by choosing smaller candy packages. Americans are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween, up from last year’s record $13.1 billion, the National Retail Federation said.

Candy and chewing gum prices rose 7.7% in September from a year earlier, based on Consumer Price Index data. The sugar-and-sweets category climbed 5.5%. Poor weather affected sugar production, while cocoa supply disruptions in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana added pressure to chocolate costs.

Wells Fargo Agri-Food estimates chocolate prices will be about 8% higher than last Halloween, with effective transaction prices increasing roughly 5% to 8% after promotions. Although cocoa prices have fallen from historic highs, much of the chocolate being sold for Halloween was made with cocoa purchased six to 12 months earlier.

Halloween candy sales were down 6.7% through the four weeks ending after Sept. 19, Nielsen IQ data showed. Chocolate sales declined 7.2% through the nine weeks ended Oct. 17. Small candy packs of nine ounces or less rose 24% in dollar sales and 14% in unit sales, while larger package sizes declined.

Hershey shares rose Friday as investors moved toward consumer staples, but the company reduced its 2026 organic sales growth forecast to 3% from a previous range of 3% to 3.5%. Hershey CEO Kirk Tanner said the company was examining promotions and value offerings as consumers face pressure.