While puns about the rising price of Halloween candy being “scary” abound, damages of inflation weren’t limited to American wallets as rising costs have continued to impact behavior.
Cost-conscious shoppers have likely noticed that the consumer price index metric for inflation above eight percent hardly reflects the actual increase in dollars spent on everyday purchases. With roughly half of Americans participating in Halloween activities of some kind throughout the month of October, the rising cost of candy perfectly captured one facet of current economic woes.
According to Datasembly, the price of popular retail treats climbed anywhere from six to seven percent for Nestlé Crunch bars and Butterfingers to a whopping 42 percent for the widely popular Skittles. Hershey may have managed to keep their king-size chocolate bar near the average of 13 percent, but their regular bar jumped up by 17 percent.
Sugar itself has risen by around that much since last September while supply chain issues have lingered, likely contributing to the higher upticks for Mars brands like Skittles and Starburst which saw its own 35 percent increase.
Members of Congress addressed this on Twitter with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) posting, “Halloween candy prices are up. Thanksgiving turkey prices are expected to soar. Good luck affording Christmas presents. Joe Biden’s America.”
Halloween candy prices are up.
Thanksgiving turkey prices are expected to soar.
Good luck affording Christmas presents.
Joe Biden’s America.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 25, 2022
As Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) noted, “In Biden’s economy, the jump in Halloween candy prices is enough to give any trick-or-treater a scare,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) addressed the broader picture pointing out the cost of pumpkins and over half of Americans saying, “inflation impacted their Halloween spending.”
In Biden's economy, the jump in Halloween candy prices is enough to give any trick-or-treater a scare — up 13% from last year alone 🎃
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 26, 2022
Biden and the Democrats’ spending is downright frightening.
Let’s take a look at how #BidenFlation impacts your Halloween:
👻 57% of Americans said inflation impacted their Halloween spending
🍬 Halloween candy is up 13%
🎃 Pumpkins cost $5.68 – up from $4.92 last year
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) October 18, 2022
While the National Retail Foundation found Americans spending half a billion more on Halloween candy from last year, climbing to $10.6 billion from $10.1 billion, those figures did not address the changing spending patterns that gave way to the increase.
The rising cost of living has not only caused many to cut back on unnecessary spending, but researchers at Toluna detailed how many were also making negative health decisions as a result. With 37 percent of respondents suggesting they were feeling more stressed, at least 13 percent said they were consuming more alcohol and 16 percent were smoking more. 21 percent had resorted to choosing less healthy eating options and for many, candy was at the top of their list as a quick fix for their depression.
However, Democrats still pushed back on their policies’ negative impact as socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed corporations and tweeted last week, “While the cost of Halloween candy has surged more than 13.1% since last September, the Mars candy bar family became 44% richer during the pandemic increasing their wealth by $32.6 billion. The Mars family is now worth $106.8 billion. Do you know what’s scary? Corporate greed.”
While the cost of Halloween candy has surged more than 13.1% since last September, the Mars candy bar family became 44% richer during the pandemic increasing their wealth by $32.6 billion. The Mars family is now worth $106.8 billion.
Do you know what’s scary? Corporate greed.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 21, 2022
Tuesday he turned the attack on Republicans and wrote, “While the price of a bag of Snickers has more than doubled, Republicans want to give the Mars family, who became 44% richer during the pandemic and are now worth $106 billion, a tax break of up to $42 billion by repealing the estate tax. Yes. Trickle down economics is very scary.”
While the price of a bag of Snickers has more than doubled, Republicans want to give the Mars family, who became 44% richer during the pandemic and are now worth $106 billion, a tax break of up to $42 billion by repealing the estate tax. Yes. Trickle down economics is very scary.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 25, 2022
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Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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