Halloween candy prices continue to rise, affecting South Mississippi shoppers and trick-or-treaters

D’IBERVILLE, Miss. (WXXV) –Candy prices have risen significantly over the past few years and it doesn’t look like they’ll be coming down any time soon.

It’s one of the best times of the year to be a kid: Halloween night.

“I was like, ‘Dang, is this candy? I’m fixing to eat it all,'” Jessie Helms said as he reflected on his childhood Halloweens spent trick-or-treating. “And then I’d eat it all, and then my stomach would hurt, and it was really good, but then it wasn’t worth it cause my stomach would hurt… so like, it was really good.”

This year, candy prices might be the scariest thing about the season.

According to Finance Buzz, variety packs of candy have seen prices rise by roughly 70% since 2020, with shoppers now having to shell out 15 to 20 dollars per bag at major retailers. While chocolate candy saw the biggest price jump due to deteriorating conditions with cocoa crops globally, non-chocolate candy is not much cheaper.

As a result, households might not purchase as much candy to go around. Some might not participate in Halloween trick-or-treating at all.

“I’d be at least a little confused and unhappy,” young trick-or-treater Cailyn said.

Many now wondering: can anything be done to combat this?

“I just feel like they can lower the prices down,” shopper Sydney explained. “Y’all [are] fixing to stop EBT and all this, so, you know, yeah, just lower the prices down. The prices [are] too high, extremely. Like, last year it was two dollars for a little bag, and now it’s six, you know?”

Bill Province, a Coast resident, said he now limits himself to just one bag of candy for his neighborhood.

“Halloween candy’s expensive, so I just buy enough for the trick-or-treaters that come by my door, and small amounts, and I don’t buy extra,” Province said.

While some shoppers might feel a bit guilty about cutting back on the Halloween treats this year, others feel like giving out less candy or finding some alternatives could actually be better.

“As a parent’s perspective going trick-or-treating with the kids, they honestly get way too much candy every year,” local shopper and mother Victoria explained. “So, I think if people were to cut back a little bit, it wouldn’t be a huge deal, and stickers, tattoos, glow sticks… they’re all fun!”