By Cara Smith | NerdWallet

Forget the ghouls and ghosts — inflation is spooky enough. And it’s coming for your Halloween candies.

Candy and gum prices rose 7.5% between September 2022 and September 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For context, the broader category of grocery prices increased 3.7% over that time frame.

Why is candy so expensive?

Beyond overall inflation, which rose 3.7% year over year since September 2023, there are a few more reasons why candy is so expensive right now. The cost of raw sugar reached an 11-year high in April, per CNBC, due to the effects of extreme weather on the crop, as well as rising demand.

And a U.S. agricultural policy that requires 85% of sugar purchases to come from domestic processors is further tightening an already strained supply, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Consumers are taking notice. In a survey of 1,000 U.S. households that celebrate Halloween, 41% of respondents said that inflation has impacted how much they plan to spend on Halloween candy this year, according to Advantage Solutions, an e-commerce analytics firm.

Go for this cheap Halloween candy in 2023

Thankfully, there are some candies whose prices actually fell year over year, according to a new report from Pattern, an e-commerce analytics firm. So you can still indulge in some sweet treats without exceeding your budget.

Pattern tracked the price changes of more than 30 types of candy on Amazon every day for one year. First, Pattern data scientists calculated a baseline price for specific candies — such as Twix, Milky Way or Skittles — by taking the average of the 10 most popular versions of those candies.

For example, Milky Way’s 10 most popular products may include a two-pack of candy bars, a 36-pack of candy bars and a bag of Milky Way “Fun Size” minis. Those prices, as well as the prices of the seven other most popular products, would then be averaged. That average would represent the Milky Way baseline price.

Then, Pattern compared that initial baseline cost from October 2022 with each candy’s baseline price one year later.

By measuring how each candy’s baseline price changes over time, a picture emerges of how each candy’s price rose or fell over a given time period — regardless of product.

In the 12 months leading up to Oct. 9, 2023, the analysis found that prices fell on Amazon for these candies:

Hot Tamales (-44.90%).
Mounds (-13.23%).
Heath (-10.24%).
Rolos (-9.83%).
Milk Duds (-7.58%).
Whoppers (-6.9%).
Reeses (-5.13%).
Milky Way (-4.28%).
Nerds (-2.96%).
Kit Kat (-1.63%).

Those percentages translate to significant real-world savings. Last year, Hot Tamales’ baseline cost on Amazon was $45.69 on Amazon. Today, that figure is 44.9% less, at $25.32, per Pattern. Even Milky Way’s much smaller percentage change of -4.28% means the candy’s average price dropped from $21.70 in 2022 to $19.01 in 2023.

To avoid inflation’s hardest-hit treats, stay away from these candies, whose prices rose the most dramatically over that time period: Airheads (+26.34%), Baby Ruth (+13.51%), candy corn (+13.24%), PayDay (+12.0%) and Tootsie Rolls (+11.36%). Airheads’ average cost was $10.15 in 2022; today, that figure is $15.32.

How to save money on Halloween

With expensive winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah just around the corner, here’s how to spend less on Halloween, beyond avoiding the priciest treats.

Avoid buying your favorite candy. Seems counterintuitive, right? But, as Fortera Credit Union notes, you’re more likely to munch on your favorite treats before Halloween, leaving you in a pinch on the big night. Stock up on sweets you won’t be tempted to eat.

Make your own costume. You can also ask friends if they want to trade costumes, recommends Farmers Trust & Savings Bank. If you’re responsible for kids’ costumes, reach out to other families in your social circle and see if any parents would be interested in a costume swap.

Trade home and yard decor with friends and family. For decorations, buy art supplies from a dollar store, per Advisors Management Group, an investment firm in Wisconsin.

 

The article Candy Prices Are Up. Here’s Why, and How to Save on Halloween originally appeared on NerdWallet.

Vikings at Packers (even)

Harrison Phillips had egg on his face Monday night when he started to take off his jersey in hopes of swapping it with ex-teammate Christian McCaffrey. The 49ers’ star rejected the offer in full view of ESPN’s cameras and the Manning brothers. Minnesota fans haven’t been that embarrassed for a disrobing Viking since the Lake Minnetonka sex cruise.
Pick: Vikings by 3

Bengals at 49ers (-5½)

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy went into the concussion protocol after the 49ers’ loss in Minneapolis. The first sign Purdy was suffering cognitive issues was when he agreed to swap jerseys with Harrison Phillips.
Pick: Bengals by 3

Saints at Colts (-1½)

New Orleans’ Chris Olave was arrested for speeding Monday night despite trying to seek leniency from the officer by telling him “I play for the Saints, man.” It was a tactic he learned at Ohio State when you could get away with anything by saying “I play for the Buckeyes, man.”
Pick: Colts by 3

Patriots at Dolphins (-9½)

Former New England star Rob Gronkowski criticized the Patriots for boisterously celebrating after upsetting Buffalo for only their second victory of the season. That’s pretty rich coming from a dude who boisterously celebrates nearly every day whenever it’s five o’clock somewhere.
Pick: Dolphins by 7

Texans at Panthers (+3½)

Houston furniture salesman Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale reportedly lost nearly $8 million when his beloved Astros lost to Texas in the American League Championship Series. It’s believed to be the biggest waste of money in the Space City since the Texans gave $72 million to Brock Osweiler.
Pick: Texans by 7

Browns at Seahawks (-3½)

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss another game and says he doesn’t know how long his shoulder injury will linger. While Watson would no doubt be helped by some physical therapy, he has been banned from receiving massages in 47 states.
Pick: Seahawks by 7

Bears at Chargers (-8½)

Los Angeles standout Austin Ekeler raised eyebrows when he said his teammates have “no other choice” but to have faith in embattled coach Brandon Staley. So there’s still a chance Staley will use Ekeler as a reference after the season when he applies for a job in the XFL.
Pick: Chargers by 3

Chiefs at Broncos (+7½)

Denver safety Kareem Jackson was suspended four games after being flagged for multiple unnecessary roughness penalties and getting ejected from a second game this season. It’s a huge blow for the Broncos as he was one of their few defensive players making any tackles.
Pick: Chiefs by 14

Jets at Giants (+3½)

New York’s rivalry is renewed as the Met Life Stadium tenants meet at the Meadowlands. It’s no doubt the biggest game of the year for Jets and Giants fans as they realize they don’t have even the slightest chance of seeing postseason football.
Pick: Jets by 7

Falcons at Titans (+2½)

With Ryan Tannehill questionable, Tennessee may resort to using two lousy quarterbacks, Will Levis and Malik Willis. For its part, Atlanta will stick with its One Lousy Quarterback Option: Desmond Ridder.
Pick: Falcons by 3

Other games

Rams at Cowboys (-6½):
Pick: Cowboys by 7

Ravens at Cardinals (+8½):
Pick: Ravens by 7

Jaguars at Steelers (+2½):
Pick: Jaguars by 3

Eagles at Commanders (+6½):
Pick: Eagles by 7

Raiders at Lions (-8½):
Pick: Lions by 11

Record

Week 7
6-7 straight up
5-8 vs. spread

Season
63-43 straight up (.594)
54-52 vs. spread (.509)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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These are the burgers for which people are willing to wait — sometimes as long as an hour or two. And these four places are worth the hype.

New or updated entries are marked with an asterisk.

If you have other suggestions, please email them to us at eat@pioneerpress.com.

Other categories from our 2023 guide:

Burgers for beer (and cocktail) hounds
‘Cheffy’ burgers
Cult burgers
Destination burgers
Dive bar burgers
Neighborhood burgers

1. * Private Sector Provisions

The guys behind this buzzy pop-up make a truly unbelievable burger. A big bad ball of beef, topped with raw onions, is smashed directly into the flat top and hit with seasoning, letting everything commingle as it cooks. (“I’m trying to be vulnerable with the beef,” co-owner Brett Splinter joked as he manned the grill. “You have to give it love!”) Two of those, each with its own slice of American cheese, go onto a soft toasted bun with delightfully dilly house pickles and sauce. For $10! An extra dollar for a bag of chips. Tell me where else you’re going to get a quality burger for that price, let alone one that’s as juicy and beefy and perfectly, dreamily savory as this. Impossible! This is what a burger is meant to be. My bun runneth over.

Private Sector Provisions: Currently a pop-up at Nova Bar in Hudson (236 Coulee Rd, Hudson), but follow them on Instagram @privatesectorprovisions for times/availability.

Private Sector Provisions’ double smash burger at their pop-up at Nova Bar in Hudson, Wisc., on Oct. 18, 2023. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)

2. Bebe Zito

Can a burger become a cult phenomenon in less than four years? In this case, yes. The folks behind this Uptown Minneapolis ice cream shop started slinging an inexpensive burger during the pandemic, and almost immediately, lines began to form. It was only available on weekends, which was part of its allure. But lucky for us, they now have a counter at The Market at Malcolm Yards and another at Eat Street Crossing, so we can all get our hands on this bacon-infused, thinly smashed, properly cheese-enrobed burger, which gets extra flavor from kicky pickled cukes and onions. It’s a cult burger for a reason, folks. The ice cream is amazing, too.

Bebe Zito: 704 22nd St. W., Minneapolis (Friday-Sunday only); The Market at Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; Eat Street Crossing, 2819 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis; bebezitomn.com

The Burger from Bebe Zito at The Market at Malcolm Yards. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)

3. Casper and Runyon’s Nook and Shamrocks Irish Nook

The original Nook and its larger counterpart, Shamrocks, make what might be the best Juicy Lucy (called a Juicy Nookie) in town, but the burger that makes meat-lovers weep with joy is the Nookie Supreme. The burger is two giant patties of the restaurant’s proprietary Angus chuck, separated by a bun half and copious amounts of dripping American cheese. It’s topped with lettuce, onion and a tangy special sauce that ties the whole thing together. It’s a don’t-put-it-down burger, but good luck when beautifully browned fries are sitting there, likely covered with sauce and cheese drippings. Two patties are way too much for me, but a server recently revealed a valuable secret: Order a cheeseburger with lettuce and special sauce, and — presto! — a single version of the hour-wait-worthy burger.

Casper & Runyon’s Nook: 492 S. Hamline Ave., St. Paul; 651-698-4347; crnook.com
Shamrocks Irish Nook: 995 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-228-9925; crnook.com

Nookie Supreme burger.  (Chris Polydoroff / Pioneer Press archives)

4. Matt’s

The menu includes a completely unfancy Jucy (their spelling, not ours) Lucy on a completely unfancy bun in a divey neighborhood tavern. But the burger is very Minnesota, and everyone should eat it at least once. Plenty of famous people have visited, including President Barack Obama in 2014. The fries are fast-food quality but plentiful, and the well-worn griddle produces a tasty burger char.

Matt’s Bar: 3500 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis; 612-722-7072; mattsbar.com

After eating a Jucy Lucy burger, President Barack Obama leaves Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 26, 2014. (Ben Garvin / Pioneer Press)

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The bottle’s label says it’s a 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle, but it really had Iowa’s name on it.

For seven years, that bourbon sat untouched in a cabinet at P.J. Fleck’s home. Visitors would ask: “Let’s open that!” And Fleck would slightly kill the party by saying, “no.”

As the losses to Iowa stacked up since 2017, Fleck would see the bottle in the cabinet from time to time and his mouth would water. He knew how to savor it because the collector had cracked into a similar 15-year Pappy after Minnesota ended its long losing streak to Wisconsin in 2018.

But after Fleck and the Gophers beat the Hawkeyes for the first time in seven attempts and captured Floyd of Rosedale last Saturday, he and wife Heather poured themselves each a finger of expensive Kentucky bourbon.

“It tasted just as good as I thought,” Fleck shared Monday. “It was worth the wait.”

But soon after that late-night sip, Fleck was off to bed. He and his team needed to hydrate with a trap game coming Saturday. Minnesota’s newfound path to the Big Ten West division title must go through struggling Michigan State at 2:30 p.m. at Huntington Bank Stadium.

The Gophers (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) must put the euphoria of a rare rivalry win over the Hawkeyes behind them to face the uninspiring Spartans (2-5, 0-4), who have lost five straight games since head coach Mel Tucker was let go for a sexual harassment scandal in early September.

As is custom on Sundays, Gophers players stood up in a team meeting and literally patted each other on their backs for winning the previous day. Then they figuratively put on their “leather vets” to prepare for the equivalent of road rash coming via brutal honesty in their film-study breakdowns.

“We made a ton of mistakes as an offense; I made some mistakes, too,” said quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, whose accuracy issues persisted against Iowa. “But we put our leather vets on. And we are just excited to play Michigan State. They are a very good team. Of course, the Iowa win was a great win for us. We were happy to do it, but we know we still have a lot of games left to play.”

Veteran players Chris Autman-Bell, Brevyn Spann Ford and Nathan Boe spoke to the offense every day during the Iowa week. They made sure that side of the ball was locked in to the task at hand.

“It was one of those things where you didn’t want to make that game bigger than it had to be because once you win that game, the next game is just as big,” co-offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said Wednesday. “You don’t want to let the joy in the success you have from Iowa affect you against Michigan State.”

Gophers spokesmen from Fleck on down have always talked about “going 1-0 in the (fill in the opponent’s name) championship season.” It’s a mantra used to keep the focus on that week’s opponent and not get caught up in the big picture.

But fully turning the page was a conversations among coaches and with players, defensive coordinator Joe Rossi revealed.

“Are you going to be able to put back-to-back (wins together)? Or are we going to come out and feel like we’ve had one good one and now we are going to allow ourselves to slip?” Rossi asked. “Those are all the internal conversations that you have with your position groups and meeting with the defense. Then you have to go out there and play.”

A major talking point is how Michigan State remains a Big Ten opponent and has a high level of talent and athleticism that hasn’t been reflected in their losing record.

There is a residual aspect Fleck does want to carry over from the Gophers’ Iowa win. After taking lumps in a collapsing loss at Northwestern and blowout home defeat against No. 2 Michigan, he said the victory was necessary for his younger and still-developing team.

“You want to see that type of win shoot confidence into them,” Fleck added during his KFAN radio show. “This isn’t about an older team winning that game and resting on their laurels. We were trying to get our team to really believe in themselves more than anything.”

After early-season struggles, linebacker Devon Williams played his best game as a Gopher in Iowa City. “It helped us a lot,” he said of the win. “I think most of us were confident. We just had to come together. We had to lead each other and we had to help each other. We had to be there for each other. Play a lot more as a team. I felt like we went out there in Iowa and did that. It was fun.”

The enjoyment of the rivalry win permeated the visiting locker room at Kinnick Stadium and through the five-hour bus ride back to Dinkytown.

Rossi said he received the highest number of text messages from former players than at any point in his Minnesota tenure. “That (win) was for all those guys, too,” Rossi said.

Before Fleck sipped the Pappy, he touched the pig trophy on the field in Iowa City. He became emotional, left the crush of players celebrating and put his head in a towel.

“Because you know what it means to your state, your fans, the players,” Fleck told the Pioneer Press about his reaction. “It’s why we do this — for moments like that. They are not all guaranteed and not to last. That is what rivalries are about. Better enjoy the moments while you have them. As coaches, like I said in (the news conference Monday), you are hired to do those things for other people. For all the former players. For all before us — FABU.”

But as Fleck knows, the idea of FABU doesn’t start and stop on rivalry weeks.

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