Dry Weather Drives Up Prices for Halloween Candy

Dry weather has pushed up costs of sugar and cocoa, making Halloween candy more expensive. Candy prices are up 7.5% from last year.

Poor harvests due to hot, dry weather in major sugar and cocoa producing regions like Mexico, India, and Ivory Coast.

Global sugar prices are the highest since 2011 due to lower Mexican production. Cocoa prices are the highest since the 1970s.

For candy makers, sugar can be substituted more easily than cocoa if crops fall short. Cocoa only grows near the equator.

Shoppers expected to spend record $3.6 billion on Halloween candy this year despite higher prices, up 16% from 2021.