Candy and chewing-gum prices rose 8.1% in August compared with the same month in 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by Fox Business. Overall consumer prices increased 3.4% over that period.
Despite the higher candy prices, Americans were projected to spend $4.1 billion on Halloween candy in 2026, according to a National Retail Federation survey. The organization estimated total Halloween spending at $13.5 billion, compared with $13.1 billion in 2025. Those figures are projections, not final spending totals.
The NRF survey found that 96% of Halloween shoppers planned to buy candy. Average planned spending across Halloween purchases was $115.14 per person, close to the $114.45 reported for the previous year.
Respondents also described ways they might manage costs. More than one-third said they planned to compare prices if merchandise cost more than expected, while slightly more than one-quarter intended to seek coupons or sales. Nearly half said they would start shopping in September or earlier. Among those early shoppers, 23% said they bought items ahead of time to spread out their budgets.
Discount stores were the most commonly identified shopping destination, followed by specialty Halloween stores and online retailers. The survey was conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics for the NRF from Sept. 1 through Sept. 9 and included 7,889 consumers.
