This Halloween, Americans Are Facing Rising Prices For Candy, Decorations, And Costumes

Research Team | Republican National Committee

HALLOWEEN WILL COST MORE FOR HARDWORKING FAMILIES

• This Halloween season, Americans can thank Biden and Democrats for higher prices for candy, costumes, and decorations.
• The cost of candy is up more than 13 percent since last year, marking the largest annual increase ever and forcing customers to choose between overspending or missing out on Halloween fun.
  • Prices on treats like Skittles and Starbursts have seen even higher price increases, jumping more than 42 percent and 35 percent, respectively.
  • The price for a pumpkin has increased by nearly 8 percent since last Halloween season.
  • Many experts are also warning of “shrinkflation” – “where consumer items shrink in size while prices remain the same or even increase,” meaning candy bags this year may have less in them.
• According to the National Retail Federation, the typical household will spend more than $100 on candy, decorations, and costumes – just shy of last year’s record high.
  • Michele Joseph of Paducah, Kentucky: “I can definitely see why a lot of people don’t hand out candy because it is very expensive.”
  • New Yorker Ashley Conley: “I’ve decided to work with what I have in my closet this year, as shelling out money on an outfit that I would wear for a night is not worth it for me knowing rent is due next week.”
  • Claudia, a mother of five from San Diego: “I remember it was like $40 for a costume before, now they’re like $60.”
• As Americans struggle amid 40-year high inflation, Jim Clyburn (D-SC) admitted last week he and other Democrats “knew” their $1.9 trillion “stimulus” would fuel inflation.
  • Despite this, nearly every single House and Senate Democrat – including Mark Kelly, Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, and Michael Bennet – voted for Biden’s inflationary spending.

INFLATION SOARED TO A NEW 40-YEAR HIGH

• Prices on virtually everything – including Halloween favorites – show no signs of slowing down.
• In September, consumer prices soared 8.2 percent compared to last year, exceeding economists’ expectations and remaining at a near 40-year high.
  • Core consumer prices – excluding food and energy – rose 6.6 percent compared to last year, a new 40-year high.
  • Real average hourly earnings fell 3 percent, marking the 18th month in a row under Biden in which inflation has outpaced wages.
  • Real wages have fallen every month since Biden and Democrats passed their wasteful $1.9 trillion “stimulus.” 
• Even if inflation stopped rising today, Biden’s price hike would cost the average U.S. family more than $8,700 over the next year according to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee.
  • In September alone, inflation cost the typical household an extra $728.

BIDEN AND DEMOCRATS CREATED THIS INFLATION

• As crippling prices threaten Halloween festivities, Biden and Democrats’ radical policies have only made matters worse.
• A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco found that Biden and Democrats’ $1.9 trillion “stimulus” fueled inflation.
• Even liberal economists have agreed that Biden’s wasteful spending added to inflation:
  • Former Obama economic advisor Steven Rattner: “The original sin” was passing the $1.9 trillion, which has “contributed materially to today’s inflation levels.”
  • Former Obama economist Jason Furman: Biden’s spending is “too big … don’t know any economist” who supported that much.
  • Biden’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus was one of the “factors that are involved in inflation.”
• Despite fueling inflation, Democrats are defending their dangerous policy and refusing to take responsibility for causing 40-year high inflation.
  • Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO): “I think [voting for Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus] was the right thing to do”
  • North Carolina Democrat Senate Candidate Cheri Beasley defended Biden’s “stimulus.”
  • Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV): “[Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus] was a game changer.”
  • Pennsylvania Democrat Senate Candidate John Fetterman: “We are all going to benefit from [Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus].” 
• Even as families struggle, Biden and Democrats are doubling down on their inflationary agenda with their so-called “Inflation Reduction Act,” which will worsen inflation and raise taxes on working-class Americans.
  • Studies from the Tax Foundation, Penn Wharton, Moody’s, and the Congressional Budget Office all found that the Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” will either make inflation worse or do essentially nothing to reduce it.
• 78 percent of Americans say economic conditions are poor.
  • According to a new CBS News/You Gov poll, over 70 percent of Americans blame Biden for the current state of the economy, with 45 percent saying he bears a “great deal” of responsibility.

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