Candy prices have increased roughly 13.1 percent over the past year, according to a recent inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; this is the largest yearly jump in candy prices the CPI has recorded, reports NPR.
To illustrate the impact of the price change, before this inflationary period, it took nine years for candy prices to rise 13 percent, between 1997 and 2006. This increase equals roughly two dollars if one buys a Halloween-sized candy bag worth $15.
Since August of this year, the category has seen a two percent increase, among the largest monthly increases in food. Hikes in sugar and flour prices are a factor in the increase: sugar is up 17 percent and flour is up 24 percent.
The National Retail Federation, a retail trade association with members across retail sectors, expects Americans to spend around $3.1 billion on candy this season. Full Story
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