Halloween 2026 Budgets Shrink as Inflation Scares Off Celebrators — the practical version

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. shoppers (19%) aren't celebrating Halloween this year. Among those skipping the holiday, 72% are cutting back because of inflation, and 46% say they can't afford it.
• 50% of baby boomers, 22% of Gen Xers, 16% of millennials, and 10% of Gen Zers aren't planning to celebrate Halloween this year.
• Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. shoppers (19%) have a lower Halloween budget in 2025 compared to last year.
• This year, U.S. shoppers plan to spend about $220 on Halloween, from costumes and parties to decorations and candy.
• 3 Musketeers are the priciest Halloween candy or chocolate this year, averaging $0.93 per ounce.
• M&M's are the only candy to drop in price, decreasing 3% from last year.
• Mr. Fantastic tops the list as the most costly popular costume this year at $87.99.
• Stitch is the most low-priced costume, costing $23.54 on average.

Why Halloween Has Some U.S. shoppers Too Stressed to Celebrate

More U.S. shoppers are finding Halloween less treat and more trick this year. Financial stress and regret over past spending are pushing many to reconsider how—or if—they'll celebrate in 2025.

• Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. shoppers (8%) say they regret spending too much on Halloween in 2024.

Biggest Halloween Spending Regrets in 2024

• Spent too much on candy: 16%
• Bought things too late and paid higher prices: 12%
• Bought low-quality items that didn't last: 9%
• Didn't set a budget and overspent: 8%
• Spent too much on costumes: 8%

• Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. shoppers (32%) are stressed about planning Halloween this year, and 19% aren't celebrating it.. Among those skipping the holiday, 72% are cutting back because of inflation, and 46% say they can't afford it
• Over 1 in 5 U.S. shoppers (28%) do not plan to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters this year.

The Price of a Sweet Tooth This Halloween

Candy is a Halloween tradition that's quickly getting more costly. Here's how the price per ounce has changed for chocolate bars and other sweets since last season.

• 3 Musketeers remain the priciest Halloween candy or chocolate this year, averaging $0.93 per ounce.
• M&M's are the only candy to drop in price, decreasing 3% from last year.
• Laffy Taffy saw the steepest jump, rising 44% to $0.69 per ounce.
• Skittles are still among the cheapest candies at $0.40 per ounce, despite a 25% increase from 2024.
• On average, chocolate ($0.71/oz.) is 48% more costly than candy ($0.48/oz.) in 2025.
• Chocolate prices have risen 13% since 2024, while candy prices are up 23%.
• Buying in bulk ($0.53/oz.) saves about 37% compared to buying small quantities ($0.84/oz.).

The High Cost of Dressing Up This Halloween

Whether you're channeling a superhero or a spooky icon, Halloween costumes in 2025 cater to all kinds of budgets. The season's most popular looks show there's still room to have fun without going overboard.

• Mr. Fantastic tops the list as the most costly popular costume this year at $87.99.
• Stitch is the most low-priced, costing $23.54 on average.

Methodology

In August 2025, we surveyed 1,000 U.S. shoppers to explore how inflation is reshaping Halloween in 2025. The average age was 41; 50% were female, and 50% were male. Generationally, 8% were baby boomers, 25% were Gen X, 49% were millennials, and 18% were Gen Z. We used data from CamelCamelCamel to compare current Halloween candy and chocolate prices to those from our previous year's study, and Amazon to identify current prices and average costs of popular Halloween costumes. Data was collected between August 7, 2024, and August 11, 2025.