The Cost of Halloween Candy Is Scary This Year, Thanks to Inflation Skittles and Starburst lead the pack with the biggest price hikes.

By Jonathan Small

This is not a trick. The cost of Halloween treats is way up in 2022.

For example, the price of Skittles has increased 42% from last year, according to analysis from Datasembly

And if you want a juicy Starburst blast, be prepared to pay 32% more.

Related: Your Halloween Candy Will Be Smaller This Year (And Not Just Because of Inflation)

Rising candy costs for consumers

Americans will spend $3.1 billion on candy this Halloween. But thanks to soaring inflation, candy — like pretty much everything else these days — is more expensive. Take a look at these price increases, courtesy of Axios:

Candy isn't even being spared from the supply chain woes. Starburst, which is made by Mars Wrigley, gets its sugar from the Caribbean, but hurricane season caused delays in the transport of goods.

But despite the surge in candy cost, American consumers still plan on taking a big sugary bite. According to a survey from the National Confectioners Association, 82% of Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, and they're expected to shell out 48% more for candy.

Anticipating the surge, companies such as Walmart and Lowes prepared for Halloween by ordering more products and stocking the shelves early.

Inflation be darned. Trick-or-treaters are sweet on candy.

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Staff

Founder, Strike Fire Productions

Jonathan Small is a bestselling author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

From a $120M Acquisition to a $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

AI Could Cause 99% of All Workers to Be Unemployed in the Next Five Years, Says Computer Science Professor

Professor Roman Yampolskiy predicted that artificial general intelligence would be developed and used by 2030, leading to mass automation.

Buying / Investing in Business

Big Investors Are Betting on This 'Unlisted' Stock

You can join them as an early-stage investor as this company disrupts a $1.3T market.

Leadership

Lead From the Top: 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO

Knowing exactly what the chief executive's role entails is critical for steering a company to success.