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Halloween Candy Prices Spike In Prices Due To Trump’s Tariffs And Climate Change 

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This year for Halloween, one of the most spooky elements of the season is the increasing price of the holiday’s most popular candies for trick or treating. These inflated prices are connected to both Donald Trump’s tariffs and climate change. 

Candy prices are estimated to have increased by 10.8% this year, according to an analysis from the Century Foundation and the Groundwork Collaborative. Reports show that some of the most popular chocolate-based candy has seen at least a 20% rise in pricing. 

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Chocolate candies are increasing in price specifically due to years-long cocoa shortages which caused the price of cocoa in general to triple over the last few years. 

In terms of climate change, increased rain and weather-related damage in west Africa, which is one of the biggest exporters of cocoa beans, has caused cocoa to peak at more than $12,000 per ton in 2024. Since then, prices have decreased to around $6,000 per ton, however, these prices are still much higher when compared to 2020; cocoa prices were about $2,300 per ton. 

Alex Villacis, a food economist stated:

 “Our food system is really global. Something that is happening in west Africa will ultimately have an impact on your front porch this Halloween season.”

Donald Trump has also implemented tariffs on the biggest exporters of chocolate to the US. Currently, imports from the largest producer of cocoa, the Ivory Coast, are currently taxed with a 21% tariff. Ecuador, the second-largest producer, is experiencing a 15% tariff. 

The largest chocolate manufacturer in the US, Hershey’s, stated that in the spring, the tariffs could cost them over $100 million, forcing them to raise prices in addition to the fact that they need to pay more due to the cocoa shortage. 

Other business groups have also pleaded with the Trump administration to make a tariff exemption for cocoa in addition to other agricultural products that are more difficult to source in the US.

The only two US locations that can produce cocoa are Hawaii and Puerto Rico, due to the fact that it needs a tropical climate to be properly grown. Even in those cases, however, the base cocoa ingredient still needs to be imported from outside nations. 

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Candy customers are not surprised by this rise in prices, in fact, a recent survey from the National Retail Federation (NRF) showed that 79% of consumers were expecting more expensive candy this Halloween. This keeps the demand high, especially for chocolate. 

“Chocolate producers have two options: they can either just pass this additional cost to the final consumer or they can absorb this higher cost as a loss,” Villacis said. 

“Something in between that we have been observing is a subtle form of what we call ‘shrinkflation’. In this case, what we have seen is not that they are making their products smaller, but they are reformulating the products in the sense that they are putting less cocoa and trying to replace cocoa with other things like almonds or more milk.”

“It’s not really clear how companies are approaching this right now, but we’ve all had this moment to get used to some of the tactics that they’re using to pass along price increases to consumers,” said Angela Hanks, chief of policy programs at the Century Foundation. 

“Companies take advantage of a moment where people expect prices to increase and pre-emptively increase them.”

The NRF has estimated that with the existing demand for Halloween candy, costumes, and decorations will net sales of up to $13.1 billion. 

The National Confectioners Association released data  that showed Halloween candy sales making up 18% of all confectionery retail sales in 2024.

“Chocolate products are really embedded into American holiday culture,” Villacis said. 

“As economists, we cannot help noticing how each candy bar tells a story of global trade. It’s a constant reminder that economics touches everything in our lives.”

Lecia Duke Quintessential Chocolates

How a Former Architect Chased Her Dreams and Became a Trailblazing Chocolatier | Lecia Duke

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Adults and kids alike have a sweet tooth for chocolate, making it the most popular candy in the world. It tastes fantastic, lifts spirits, and is steeped in centuries of tradition. Chocolatier Lecia Duke overcame obstacles to bring innovative chocolates to the American market. Her company, Quintessential Chocolates, offers handcrafted liqueur praliné chocolates.

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With Rising Prices, Here Are Some Ways To Save For Easter Activities

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Due to rising inflation and the Ukraine conflict, prices on goods across the board have taken a hit, and with Easter coming up, you may feel it in your pocketbook more than ever. The New York Post reported that the average cost of an Easter basket has skyrocketed to $61.83, up from $50.46 — or 22.5% — in the spring of 2019.

Individual candies like Hershey’s and Kit Kats have risen 99 cents to $1.25, while a classic 6-oz chocolate bunny has jumped a dollar to $5.99. Classic Easter meals like lamb and ham have also seen a surge in cost as well, with the USDA reporting all foods to rise 4.5% to 5.5% this year.

Those drastic changes can certainly put a damper on a holiday that saw people spend a combined $21.7 billion last year. While you might feel like hopping away and hiding in a hole, you shouldn’t fret. There are plenty of ways to avoid spending a big paycheck while still ensuring your activities and plans are top of the line.

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When it comes to shopping, coupons are an absolute must for navigating your way towards the best prices. Looking through papers and physically cutting them out or using apps such as Ibotta are both excellent options that won’t just benefit you through Easter, but the rest of the year.

Shopping in bulk can also help cut down on the price per unit of a good, both at big-box retail stores like Costco and BJ’s, or online stores like Just Candy, which currently is having a 30% off sale on all bulk candy, along with 40% on select bulk candy.

Even discount retailers like the Dollar Tree and Dollar General haven’t been immune to rising prices, with Dollar Tree raising most prices to $1.25. Still, that extra change shouldn’t deter you from finding bargain deals on decorations, supplies, and candy. Even better, Dollar Tree’s loss is Dollar General’s gain, with the latter leaning more into the “$1 dollar” selling point. That should give you all the more flexibility on where to shop.

Speaking of decorations, Easter represents an amazing time to make your own. Country Living highlighted a number of fun and innovative ideas, from shaping napkins into bunny ears to making an egg carton wreath out of old egg cartons.

The key here is to recycle and transform common objects around your house, whether that’s pom poms or coffee filters. You’ll not only be saving money by not having buying decor at a store (which can range anywhere from $20 to $50 and above depending where you shop), your imagination won’t be limited either. While this method might take more time, you can easily make it into a fun family activity that your children will love, killing two birds with one stone.

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That DIY attitude can also apply to making your own easter baskets instead of buying pre-made ones, which will allow you to control how much they end up costing. Don’t feel like you have to stick to candy, either – small toys and trinkets make great goodies as well, and add some variety!

Of course, with easter baskets comes egg hunts, the glorious main event in the eyes of a child. If you’re looking to spice up the hunt without spending more cash on candy, The Budget Mom suggests ideas like transforming it into a nighttime hunt with flashlights or replacing the treats with custom rewards like a family movie night or an extra hour before bed.

If you’re more focused on having a grand dinner, perhaps considering making it potluck and BYOB style if a larger amount of guests or relatives are coming over. You would focus on the main dish, while your attendees can help to contribute by offering a diverse group of appetizers and sides. If you still feel like dictating what meals you’d prefer serve, you can also request guests to bring specific dishes as well.

While you might have had the idea that in order to create the perfect Easter, going over budget would be a necessity, taking the time to find the best savings and letting your creative juices flow can prove to result in an even better celebration with friends and family.