Why the cost of Halloween is creeping up

Summary
Americans plan to spend $192 on Halloween in 2025, up from $172 last year
Cocoa supply crunch in West Africa raises chocolate costs
Government shutdown costs U.S. economy $15 billion daily, says Treasury Secretary Bessent
NEW YORK, Oct 17 (Reuters) – This was originally published in the On The Money newsletter, where we share U.S. personal finance tips and insights every other week. Sign up here to receive it for free.
Halloween is my most favorite holiday, and chocolate is my most favorite form of candy. But, like everything else, fright night is getting more expensive.
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New survey data shows Americans who plan to celebrate Halloween expect to spend an average of $192 in 2025, opens new tab, up from $172 last year, with candy the top purchase. Among those handing out treats, the average planned candy spend alone is about $70.
There are reasons why chocolate costs more this year: A severe supply crunch in West Africa is pushing cocoa costs to historic highs. Meanwhile, chocolate makers are passing along earlier cost spikes via higher shelf prices and smaller package sizes.
Here are three ways to avoid getting spooked by Halloween costs:
If you have any ideas on innovative ways to keep Halloween costs in check, write to me via the email in my bio.
THE MACRO – AND MICRO – IMPACT OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
As the U.S. government shutdown, opens new tab continues, it comes as no surprise that it is hitting the economy.
The two-week-old federal government shutdown is costing the U.S. economy about $15 billion a day in lost output, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.
The closure also shut off the flow of key economic data at a moment of uncertainty among policymakers and investors about the health of the U.S. job market, the trajectory of inflation and the strength of consumer spending and business investment.
It is also threatening home sales in flood-prone areas and delaying home closings.
That is some of the macro stuff in the current mix, but how is the shutdown personally affecting you? Write to me and tell me your thoughts.
Read, watch, listen
All that glitters
Gold is considered to be the ultimate safe haven in volatile markets – and it continues to soar.
Gold hit a fresh record high above $4,200 on Wednesday, lifted by expectations of a rate cut this month by the U.S. Federal Reserve and an investor flight to safety after a flare-up in trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Analysts at Bank of America and Societe Generale now see gold reaching $5,000 per ounce in 2026.
The surge in gold prices above $4,000 per ounce is spilling over into other precious metals too.
Is gold part of your investing strategy? Why or why not? Let me know!
And, for the latest news, follow our Gold coverage here.
by Lauren Young
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From retirement to real estate, Lauren Young covers wealth and workplace topics at Reuters, where she is the editor of digital special projects and writes the On the Money newsletter. In 2020, she was recognized as a Reuters Journalist of the Year for a social media series on race in America. Previously, Young covered personal finance at BusinessWeek, SmartMoney Magazine and the Dow Jones Newswires. Young co-founded the 29 Post at Brooklyn’s P.S. 29 elementary school. She serves on the board of the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, where is she is the immediate past president. She holds a BA in English from Penn State and an MSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.