The affordability crisis is affecting every aspect of North Carolinians’ lives, including spending for a cherished holiday.
Halloween candy prices have increased more than 15 percent this year, according to the Groundwork Collaborative. At the same time, Halloween candy sales have fallen nearly 7 percent in the month ending Oct. 17 compared to the same period last year, according to NielsenIQ.
“I was there probably in the store for 20 minutes trying to piece together how can I stay under $30 and just get some candy [the kids will] actually like,” said Charlotte area shopper Jaime Clementson.
And of course, Halloween this year comes after a year of rising gas prices fueled by the Trump administration’s war with Iran.
“I think what you’re seeing now is a consumer that’s spending so much additional money on fuel and housing and clothing and food,” said Chris Costagli of NielsenIQ. “Some of the decisions they’re making about Halloween candy, it’s not necessarily because, ‘I notice it’s more expensive than last year ’; it’s, ‘I can’t afford it this year because I’ve paid so much more for so many other things. I just don’t have the financial means to buy it this year.’”
All of this doesn’t bode well for the upcoming holiday shopping season, either.
“Halloween, Christmas, Christmas gifts, things like that, those are outside our routine spending. If my budget doesn’t change for those items, what am I going to get for the same dollar that I got last year?” said Michael Blanco, Charlotte’s Economic Club President.
Emily DiVito with Groundwork Collaborative is urging consumers to connect the dots to the bigger picture.
“Prices don’t rise out of nowhere. This is a combination of factors that folks should hold their elected officials, certainly this administration and the corporations that are producing all of these goods, accountable,” she said.
