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Candy prices up 44% as Halloween sales drop 6.7%

By Drooid · Oct 30, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

U.S. consumers are paying more for Halloween candy as prices climb sharply.
U.S. candy and gum prices rose 44 % over a five-year period as of September, according to government data.
Mondelez sour gummy packs and five Hershey variety packs each rose about 40 % year-over-year.
U.S. Halloween candy sales fell 6.7 % in the month ended Oct. 17, while NRF projects total spending at $13.5 billion.

Summary

Hershey trimmed its full-year organic sales growth outlook to about 3%, the low end of its prior 3-3.5% range.
Third-quarter net sales reached $3.28 billion, slightly above LSEG’s $3.25 billion estimate.
Adjusted earnings per share were $2.64, beating forecasts by 25.1%.
Hershey’s shares fell about 4% in pre-market trading after the earnings release.
The company expanded its 2027 innovation pipeline by 50%, adding premium and salty-snack products like Crème Filled Bars.

History

In October 1973 OAPEC imposed an oil embargo that quadrupled world oil prices and sparked commodity inflation. The shock lifted sugar costs by $0.12 per pound (about 28 %) and pushed U.S. candy prices up 35 % that year, pressuring firms such as Hershey and Mondelez. Today’s 44 % five-year candy price rise echoes that historic volatility, underscoring how energy-driven commodity spikes still shape confectionery margins.

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In October 1973 OAPEC imposed an oil embargo that quadrupled world oil prices and sparked commodity inflation. The shock lifted sugar costs by $0.12 per pound (about 28 %) and pushed U.S. candy prices up 35 % that year, pressuring firms such as Hershey and Mondelez. Today’s 44 % five-year candy price rise echoes that historic volatility, underscoring how energy-driven commodity spikes still shape confectionery margins.

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