Halloween Candy Spending Sets Record

No Comments | Written on October 31, 2011 at 1:00 pm, by Lesley Kennedy

Americans will fork over $2.3 billion – billion! – on Halloween candy this year, website Life’s Little Mysteries reports. (And you thought it was the zombies, vampires, werewolves, and mummies running around town that were supposed to be the scary part of the part.) At least we know we’re not the only ones going through “fun size” Snickers, mini Twix, and tiny boxes of Nerds like we’re bears storing up for winter.

The National Confectioners Association tells the website the staggering amount is a new record, and while Americans may be cutting back on spending in other areas, don’t mess with their Halloween candy bills—sales rise 1 to 3 percent every year, making it the largest holiday when it comes to candy, beating out Easter, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, respectively.

So, just how does $2.3 billion shake down? It’s roughly $7.36 spent on Halloween treats per person. Obviously, we’re spending enough to take care of several Americans and their trick-or-treaters this season. We spent practically that much per bag of candy (and, yes, we bought several). We even had to go back to the store for more after our kids ripped into the M&Ms, Kit Kats and Starburst, leaving a trail of tiny wrappers in their wake. And they thought they’d get away with it without getting caught.

What we’re buying? “Snack-sized versions of the candies that are popular year-round are the most popular at Halloween,” Susan Whiteside, vice president of communications at the National Confectioners Association, tells Life’s Little Mysteries.

And then, there’s candy corn.

“About 35 million pounds of candy corn was made for the season,” Whiteside tells the site.

To put that into perspective, think 27 candy corns per American. After one piece, we’re practically in a sugar coma. After 27? Forget needing a costume. We’ll turn into a sugar-crazed beast all on our own. And we don’t even have to hide the wrappers.