Candy Prices Jump 7.7% Year Over Year, Outpacing Grocery Inflation
Chicago shoppers report higher costs for Halloween treats and costumes, with candy inflation running at more than four times the rate of general grocery items.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Candy prices in the Chicago area have risen by 7.7% compared to the same period last year, according to an analysis by the ABC7 Data Team. That rate of increase is more than four times the 1.8% average rise seen in overall grocery prices.
The spike in costs is forcing local families to rethink their holiday spending. Claudia Santiago, a Chicago shopper, said she now visits multiple stores and checks online retailers to find better value. Robert Smith, who is purchasing supplies for the Five Peas in a Pod Halloween Party at Westinghouse High School, noted that spending $85 on 10 bags of candy is a difficult burden. Smith said he found lower prices at Stock 'n Save in Hermosa, a wholesale location open to the public.
Retailers are absorbing some of the pressure while trying to remain competitive. Mo Fattah of Stock 'n Save said the family-owned business is working to keep prices affordable despite rising costs. "It's been tough. Even if the cost on us increases, we try to reduce that as much as we can," Fattah said. Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, said retailers must recover their costs while keeping customers happy. "The struggle is real," Karr said.
Costumes are also becoming more expensive, adding to the financial strain for households with multiple children. Marisa Ikpoh, president of The Give and Receive, noted that the cost of buying new outfits for her four daughters is substantial. "I have four daughters, and just multiply the price of a costume times four, and you will feel my pain," Ikpoh said.
To offset these expenses, Ikpoh organized a pop-up "Boo-tique" costume swap at the 36th Ward Office. The event allows families to trade existing costumes rather than buying new ones. "Maybe the parents can't afford it, so let's step in and be a community, right?" Ikpoh said. The swap will take place on Friday, October 30.
Organizers will continue to accept costume donations after Halloween to stock next year's event. More information about the program is available at thegivenreceive.org.
