Shrinkflation is taking a bite out of your Halloween candy supply, and pocketbook
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As Halloween season creeps in, many Canadians have already stocked up on candy for trick-or-treaters.
With the cost of just about everything going up, you might expect Halloween treats to be more expensive this year. The reality, however, is a bit more complicated.
Globally, sugar prices are about 24 percent higher since May of this year, and cocoa prices have skyrocketed by an astonishing 119 percent. This has fuelled a wave of shrinkflation, where product sizes shrink while prices remain steady, giving consumers less for the same cost. In 2023, shrinkflation hit hard, with smaller chocolate bars and candy packages.
Data from CBC shows that Oh Henry bars, for example, have shrunk by 7.2 percent since last year, Coffee Crisp by 10 percent, M&Ms by 20 percent, Kit Kat by two percent, and Toblerone by 10 percent.
Halloween candies have not been spared.
Shrinkflation has taken another turn this year, as we see fewer candies, chocolate bars, and chip bags in traditional box sizes. Instead of boxes of 50 or 100, we now see boxes of 45, 90, or 95. This change means your cost per item is climbing, likely by five to 10 percent compared to last year. While some 50 or 100-piece boxes are still out there, they are becoming rare.
If you’re planning to give out chocolate this Halloween, expect to pay between $0.15 and $0.27 per small item. However, these “fun-size” bars are now smaller, typically weighing between nine and 16 grams. You may be tempted to give out more than one item per child, which will drive up your total cost.
If you’re feeling generous, full-size chocolate bars are available for about $0.90 per 45-gram unit. But, depending on where you shop, it may be more cost-effective to stick with the small bars, as they tend to have a lower price per gram.
Chips are another popular Halloween treat, but prices have risen by about 15 percent over last year. Each bag now costs between $0.24 and $0.29, though they may still be a more affordable option since most households give out only one bag per trick-or-treater. That said, the bags are now lighter, typically containing only 16 grams.
For those who prefer non-chocolate treats, Skittles will cost around $0.18 per small bag. Tootsie Rolls, Rockets, and other popular Halloween candies remain priced at roughly $0.013 per gram, showing little change from last year. While less popular, licorice sits at around $0.14 per piece, making it a mid-range choice for those looking to mix things up.
Finally, let’s clear up one thing: handing out pop to trick-or-treaters is not only more expensive, but it’s also impractical. It’s heavy, and kids already have enough to carry without lugging around bottles or cans of pop.
With Halloween fast approaching, your budget for trick-or-treating will likely range from $0.25 to $0.50 per item, similar to last year. Thanks to shrinkflation, though, kids will have to visit more doors to collect the same amount of candy.
On the plus side, that means more exercise – unless, of course, their parents are driving them around. Maybe shrinkflation has its perks after all.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a Canadian professor and researcher specializing in food distribution and policy, is a senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast. He is frequently cited in the media for his insights on food prices, agricultural trends, and the global food supply chain.
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