Trick or treat: candy prices are rising twice as fast as inflation
From Dec 1997 to Dec 2022, US candy prices rose 84%, the same as all consumer prices. Since then candy is up 25%, against 14% for all prices.
Candy against all prices since 2019
Percent change since Aug 2019.
Up to and including Sep 2026
| Month | Candy | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | +54% | +31% |
| Sep 2025 | +43% | +27% |
| Sep 2024 | +30% | +23% |
| Sep 2023 | +29% | +20% |
| Sep 2022 | +20% | +16% |
| Sep 2021 | +6.4% | +6.9% |
| Sep 2020 | +4.4% | +1.4% |
| Sep 2019 | +2.0% | +0.1% |
| Aug 2019 | 0% | 0% |
Every month since December 1997: the candy and all-items price indexes and, from 2006, average hourly pay, as a gzipped CSV.
Download CSV (gzip)Candy prices each year
Change in candy prices over twelve months to September, against all consumer prices.
Up to and including Sep 2026
September against the September before, newest first. Candy rose faster than all prices in 14 of 28 years.
- 2026+7.7%, all prices +3.7%
- 2025+9.8%, all prices +3.0%
- 2024+0.3%, all prices +2.4%
- 2023+7.5%, all prices +3.7%
- 2022+13.1%, all prices +8.2%
- 2021+2.0%, all prices +5.4%
- 2020+2.3%, all prices +1.4%
- 2019+4.4%, all prices +1.7%
- 2018+1.2%, all prices +2.3%
- 2017−1.4%, all prices +2.2%
- 2016−0.4%, all prices +1.5%
- 2015+4.1%, all prices −0.0%
Bars are candy and chewing gum. The dashed mark on each row is all consumer prices over the same twelve months.
Showing 12 of 28
| Year | Candy | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | +7.7% | +3.7% |
| September 2025 | +9.8% | +3.0% |
| September 2024 | +0.3% | +2.4% |
| September 2023 | +7.5% | +3.7% |
| September 2022 | +13% | +8.2% |
| September 2021 | +2.0% | +5.4% |
| September 2020 | +2.3% | +1.4% |
| September 2019 | +4.4% | +1.7% |
| September 2018 | +1.2% | +2.3% |
| September 2017 | -1.4% | +2.2% |
| September 2016 | -0.4% | +1.5% |
| September 2015 | +4.1% | -0.0% |
| September 2014 | +1.9% | +1.7% |
| September 2013 | -2.3% | +1.2% |
| September 2012 | +1.0% | +2.0% |
| September 2011 | +5.2% | +3.9% |
| September 2010 | +2.7% | +1.1% |
| September 2009 | +4.2% | -1.3% |
| September 2008 | +6.4% | +4.9% |
| September 2007 | +4.8% | +2.8% |
| September 2006 | +1.7% | +2.1% |
| September 2005 | +1.4% | +4.7% |
| September 2004 | +0.9% | +2.5% |
| September 2003 | +1.1% | +2.3% |
| September 2002 | +1.6% | +1.5% |
| September 2001 | +0.8% | +2.6% |
| September 2000 | +0.6% | +3.5% |
| September 1999 | +2.0% | +2.6% |
About the data
- Delayed cocoa shock. Cocoa prices hit a record in December 2024 and have since fallen by more than half. Makers like Hershey buy 3 to 24 months ahead, so those record costs still feed into 2026 prices, after increases of more than 10% in late 2025.
- Protected US sugar. World sugar is well below its peak, but US import limits keep US sugar near its record: $1.02 a pound in September 2026.
- Real price rises, not trading up. BLS prices the same products every month and adjusts for smaller packs. The rise is not people buying pricier brands; the same candy costs more.
- Candy is the BLS consumer price index for candy and chewing gum, all prices the index for all items, both not seasonally adjusted.