Trick or treat: candy prices are rising twice as fast as inflation
From Dec 1997 to Dec 2022, US prices for candy and chewing gum rose 84% and all consumer prices 84%. Since then candy is up 24%, against 13% for all prices.
Candy against all prices since 1997
Percent change since Dec 1997, when BLS started the candy index.
Up to and including Aug 2026
| Month | Candy | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | +129% | +108% |
| Aug 2025 | +112% | +101% |
| Aug 2024 | +96% | +95% |
| Aug 2023 | +93% | +90% |
| Aug 2022 | +76% | +84% |
| Aug 2021 | +59% | +70% |
| Aug 2020 | +54% | +61% |
| Aug 2019 | +49% | +59% |
| Aug 2018 | +44% | +56% |
| Aug 2017 | +45% | +52% |
| Aug 2016 | +45% | +49% |
| Aug 2015 | +46% | +48% |
| Aug 2014 | +38% | +47% |
| Aug 2013 | +38% | +45% |
| Aug 2012 | +41% | +43% |
| Aug 2011 | +37% | +40% |
| Aug 2010 | +32% | +35% |
| Aug 2009 | +29% | +34% |
| Aug 2008 | +24% | +36% |
| Aug 2007 | +17% | +29% |
| Aug 2006 | +13% | +26% |
| Aug 2005 | +8.5% | +22% |
| Aug 2004 | +9.1% | +17% |
| Aug 2003 | +8.0% | +14% |
| Aug 2002 | +6.5% | +12% |
| Aug 2001 | +4.3% | +10% |
| Aug 2000 | +3.6% | +7.1% |
| Aug 1999 | +2.2% | +3.6% |
| Aug 1998 | +0.5% | +1.3% |
| Dec 1997 | 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)Source: BLS consumer price index, not seasonally adjusted.
Candy prices each year
Change in candy prices over twelve months to August, against all consumer prices.
Up to and including Aug 2026
August against the August before, newest first. Candy rose faster than all prices in 14 of 28 years.
- 2026+8.1%, all prices +3.4%
- 2025+8.1%, all prices +2.9%
- 2024+1.4%, all prices +2.5%
- 2023+9.4%, all prices +3.7%
- 2022+10.9%, all prices +8.3%
- 2021+3.4%, all prices +5.3%
- 2020+2.9%, all prices +1.3%
- 2019+3.7%, all prices +1.8%
- 2018−0.6%, all prices +2.7%
- 2017−0.3%, all prices +1.9%
- 2016−0.3%, all prices +1.1%
- 2015+5.5%, all prices +0.2%
Bars are candy and chewing gum. The dashed mark on each row is all consumer prices over the same twelve months.
| Year | Candy | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | +8.1% | +3.4% |
| August 2025 | +8.1% | +2.9% |
| August 2024 | +1.4% | +2.5% |
| August 2023 | +9.4% | +3.7% |
| August 2022 | +11% | +8.3% |
| August 2021 | +3.4% | +5.3% |
| August 2020 | +2.9% | +1.3% |
| August 2019 | +3.7% | +1.8% |
| August 2018 | -0.6% | +2.7% |
| August 2017 | -0.3% | +1.9% |
| August 2016 | -0.3% | +1.1% |
| August 2015 | +5.5% | +0.2% |
| August 2014 | +0.5% | +1.7% |
| August 2013 | -2.5% | +1.5% |
| August 2012 | +3.0% | +1.7% |
| August 2011 | +3.9% | +3.8% |
| August 2010 | +2.4% | +1.1% |
| August 2009 | +4.2% | -1.5% |
| August 2008 | +5.3% | +5.4% |
| August 2007 | +3.8% | +2.0% |
| August 2006 | +4.2% | +3.8% |
| August 2005 | -0.6% | +3.6% |
| August 2004 | +1.0% | +2.6% |
| August 2003 | +1.4% | +2.2% |
| August 2002 | +2.1% | +1.8% |
| August 2001 | +0.7% | +2.7% |
| August 2000 | +1.4% | +3.4% |
| August 1999 | +1.7% | +2.3% |
Source: BLS consumer price index, not seasonally adjusted.