Why your Halloween candy is costing more this year

Bonnie Ostrowski rolled out of Sam’s Club at Pittsburgh Mills pushing a cart full of Halloween goodies.

“I got three grandkids who live with me … that’s why the cart looks the way it does,” Ostrowski said about the bulk-sized packages of candy she purchased recently.

Ostrowski, a retiree from Harrison, went to Sam’s Club for her Halloween candy, saying it was the more affordable option when buying for trick-or-treaters.

Economic experts say shoppers hunting for Halloween candy this year are paying more as tariffs push up the cost of imported goods and cocoa prices reach historic highs. To help shoppers compare options, TribLive analyzed the prices of large candy variety packs and popular king-size candy bars across large grocery stores.

Dorene Ciletti, director of Point Park University’s marketing and sales program, said the price increase is multifaceted. Higher tariffs on imported ingredients such as butter and sugar, as well as disruptions in the supply chain, have raised costs.

“Many people don’t think about what it takes to get candy in front of a trick-or-treater,” she said.

Why the increase?

In July, TribLive reported Hershey Co. announced it would be raising the cost of its products because of surges in the price of cocoa. The price increase was attributed to shortages resulting from a spate of disease and poor weather in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Cocoa prices in June 2024 averaged $9,300 per metric ton, as a result of tight supply conditions. Since then, prices have declined, averaging $8,341 per metric ton for June 2025, according to Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute Quarterly Update.

While the cost of cocoa has gradually dropped since the start of October, according to U.S. commodities statistics, Ciletti said prices will remain high because the candy on the shelves for Halloween was made with cocoa that manufacturers purchased at a higher cost earlier this year.

Pauline Steininger, 58, of Greensburg recently bought two packs of candy in preparation for trick-or-treaters at a Charley Family Shop ’n Save.

Steininger said that, while she finds Halloween candy more expensive in recent years, she chose the location to do her shopping based on convenience rather than price. Steininger works in the cafeteria at Greensburg-Salem Middle School, which is down the street from the store.

John Rusnica, 58, of Jeannette buys candy regularly. “I have a really bad sweet tooth,” he said.

In recent years, Rusnica has noticed the cost of his favorite treats has reached what he describes as “ridiculous” levels.

Jeffrey Barr, an economics professor at Penn State Altoona, said buyouts from food giants might be driving up costs as well. While consumers may see a variety of products available for purchase, most of the candies being sold are manufactured by the same companies.

“The food industry has generally gotten more concentrated over time,” he said.

Total spending on candy nationally is expected to reach $3.9 billion this year, according to a National Retail Federation study.

The cost of candy

Price comparisons in mid-October revealed that shoppers, like Ostrowski, who buy king-size candy bars in bulk are spending less money per bar.

Costco Wholesale and Sam’s Club are both known for bulk packaging and had cheaper prices per candy bar.

At Costco, a king-size bar of Hershey’s Milk Chocolate was found at $1.06 and a 4-pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups cost $1.87.

At Sam’s Club, a king-size bag of Sour Patch Kids cost 94 cents and a 4-pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups cost 74 cents.

There were no king-size Sour Patch Kids available at Costco online and no king-size Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bars available at Sam’s Club online.

Giant Eagle Supermarket had the highest prices for king-size Reese’s and Hershey’s — both sold for $3.49.

A king-size Hershey’s bar costs $2.78 at Walmart, $1.67 at Target and $2.99 at Shop ’n Save. A king-size pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups was $2.78 at Walmart, $2.89 at Target and $2.99 at Shop ’n Save.

King-size packs of Sour Patch Kids go for $2.51 at Walmart, $1.89 at Target and $1.79 at Shop ’n Save.

Tom Charley, owner of Charley Family Shop ’n Save, said candy sales have held steady, with no noticeable drop in how much product is leaving the shelves.

“I’d say the demand for the candy sales for Halloween this year is pretty consistent, better than it has been in the past couple years,” Charley said.

A TribLive candy search found Walmart selling a 200-piece chocolate variety pack for $24.96. However, Target was selling the same 200-piece assorted Halloween variety bag but for $1.03 more.

At Sam’s Club, customers can get a 290-piece bag of chocolate-based candy for $26.98. At Giant Eagle, a 150-piece variety pack of chocolate bars cost $19.99.

Ciletti said it is likely that customers may see “shrinkflation,” which means grocery stores might begin stocking products that are smaller sizes or contain more fillings rather than solid chocolate.

“This is a way for manufacturers to keep prices a little more steady,” Ciletti said.