You’d think that we’d all get a break this Halloween to kick off the holiday season.  Well, think again.

First off, on the candy front, expect higher prices and smaller sizes. The average individual candy bar is 10 to 15% smaller this year for the same price – or worse, for more.  Hershey raised prices by double digits. A 48-count box of full-size bars that cost $40 last year is now $50. So how is Hershey responding? With a switch pitch to smaller vampire-shaped Kit Kats. Really? It’s a race to the Halloween bottom. The candy price wars began in September.  In fact, Halloween shopping started so early that Mars christened it “Summerween.” Wonder what brand manager came up with that one? Kroger launched its Halloween candy sale, maybe a bit too late, in mid-October discounting many brands up to 33% off regular price.

And here’s breaking news, Americans top 3 favorite Halloween treats are chocolates, gummy candies, and candy corn. And guess what? Mississippi, Nebraska, and Kentucky are the top three states when it comes to buying candy corn, and almost a third of us start eating candy corn at the white end. Who knew? Who cares? I know like 3 people who actually  like candy corn.   

And then we have the tariffs. Roughly 90% of Halloween costumes contain at least one component made in China. With tariffs hitting as high as 145%, costume prices have jumped. To put it into perspective, some costumes that sold for $20 last year will cost $40 this year.

The bottom line? Halloween 2025 is going to be a test of consumer resilience and retail creativity. This year it’s all about getting tricked, not treated.