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Candy, chocolate, and costumes: a look at data related to sweets and treats

October 31, 2014

Halloween is often associated with candy, costumes, and seasonal fall celebrations. Whether you are greeting trick-or-treaters, attending a costume party, or simply indulging in the well-stocked candy aisle at your local store, you have probably been tempted by sweets and treats over the past few weeks. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for candy and chewing gum increased 13 percent from December 1997 to December 2006. In more recent years, the index rose 23 percent from January 2007 to September 2014; the price index for candy and chewing gum has remained relatively constant since mid-2011.

Consumer price indexes for candy, snacks, and baked goods, not seasonally adjusted, December 1997–September 2014
Month Candy and chewing gum Snacks Fresh cakes and cupcakes Cookies

Dec 1997

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Jan 1998

101.2 99.7 99.8 100.2

Feb 1998

100.9 99.9 101.0 100.7

Mar 1998

101.6 99.7 100.9 99.7

Apr 1998

101.1 100.1 100.6 99.9

May 1998

99.8 100.1 99.7 99.4

Jun 1998

101.3 100.6 98.9 100.8

Jul 1998

100.6 100.4 99.0 100.5

Aug 1998

100.5 102.0 99.7 101.8

Sep 1998

101.1 100.4 99.8 99.2

Oct 1998

101.2 101.0 100.8 100.2

Nov 1998

101.0 101.3 102.5 100.9

Dec 1998

101.1 100.8 102.2 102.1

Jan 1999

101.7 102.3 101.8 103.1

Feb 1999

101.7 102.0 101.3 102.5

Mar 1999

101.3 102.2 102.1 101.6

Apr 1999

101.7 102.8 103.2 101.6

May 1999

102.4 101.7 103.6 102.4

Jun 1999

102.1 102.6 103.6 101.4

Jul 1999

102.3 103.0 102.8 102.8

Aug 1999

102.2 104.2 102.5 102.3

Sep 1999

103.1 102.9 101.8 101.4

Oct 1999

103.4 104.2 103.1 103.8

Nov 1999

102.9 104.6 103.5 104.1

Dec 1999

103.0 104.5 104.9 106.2

Jan 2000

104.0 105.5 103.1 103.3

Feb 2000

103.9 105.7 106.0 102.2

Mar 2000

104.0 106.6 104.3 104.6

Apr 2000

103.8 106.6 104.5 102.7

May 2000

103.3 107.8 104.4 102.3

Jun 2000

103.7 107.0 104.3 99.7

Jul 2000

103.7 106.2 104.9 103.0

Aug 2000

103.6 107.8 104.5 103.4

Sep 2000

103.7 108.5 104.2 102.4

Oct 2000

103.5 106.4 106.9 103.7

Nov 2000

104.0 107.3 107.8 102.9

Dec 2000

104.2 107.2 108.6 104.8

Jan 2001

104.4 107.9 109.0 103.3

Feb 2001

104.2 107.1 108.7 103.5

Mar 2001

104.2 108.4 108.3 104.0

Apr 2001

103.6 107.7 108.2 103.9

May 2001

104.1 107.6 107.5 103.8

Jun 2001

104.5 109.3 107.5 103.3

Jul 2001

103.9 108.0 108.2 103.2

Aug 2001

104.3 108.7 107.9 104.5

Sep 2001

104.5 107.3 108.8 105.4

Oct 2001

104.4 110.2 109.9 106.1

Nov 2001

104.3 109.6 110.0 106.6

Dec 2001

105.3 111.6 110.5 107.6

Jan 2002

105.6 109.5 110.1 107.8

Feb 2002

106.0 107.6 110.4 108.5

Mar 2002

105.5 109.3 110.0 108.6

Apr 2002

106.5 110.0 110.6 107.0

May 2002

104.9 108.1 110.3 107.5

Jun 2002

105.7 108.5 110.4 106.2

Jul 2002

106.9 105.5 110.9 106.2

Aug 2002

106.5 107.8 110.8 104.9

Sep 2002

106.2 108.0 111.9 106.6

Oct 2002

107.2 109.6 112.5 107.0

Nov 2002

106.7 109.0 112.1 110.3

Dec 2002

107.0 107.9 111.9 110.6

Jan 2003

106.8 109.8 112.9 109.9

Feb 2003

107.8 110.0 115.8 109.7

Mar 2003

108.8 111.4 116.1 110.1

Apr 2003

108.1 110.9 113.7 110.6

May 2003

107.5 109.5 112.7 111.6

Jun 2003

108.1 112.1 114.0 111.4

Jul 2003

108.2 109.7 114.7 111.7

Aug 2003

108.0 112.3 113.1 109.9

Sep 2003

107.4 112.7 114.7 112.1

Oct 2003

108.0 111.6 115.2 112.8

Nov 2003

108.1 112.1 115.1 112.2

Dec 2003

107.3 112.7 116.3 111.4

Jan 2004

108.0 110.7 114.9 113.1

Feb 2004

109.0 112.0 115.3 111.4

Mar 2004

108.6 110.6 116.4 113.3

Apr 2004

108.1 110.9 116.1 113.1

May 2004

108.0 111.1 116.8 113.0

Jun 2004

108.1 111.3 117.0 112.6

Jul 2004

108.6 111.7 117.1 112.0

Aug 2004

109.1 112.5 116.9 111.3

Sep 2004

108.4 111.1 116.7 112.4

Oct 2004

107.6 114.7 117.8 110.5

Nov 2004

109.3 112.7 118.5 113.9

Dec 2004

107.5 110.2 118.5 114.2

Jan 2005

108.1 112.9 117.2 113.3

Feb 2005

108.7 112.1 119.5 112.9

Mar 2005

108.1 111.7 119.7 111.9

Apr 2005

108.9 115.5 119.4 112.4

May 2005

108.1 113.6 119.7 112.0

Jun 2005

109.8 116.5 119.0 112.9

Jul 2005

111.5 114.2 119.3 113.7

Aug 2005

108.5 116.7 119.3 112.2

Sep 2005

109.9 114.6 120.0 111.8

Oct 2005

109.9 116.5 121.2 113.2

Nov 2005

110.6 115.7 120.7 115.9

Dec 2005

111.4 116.5 121.0 116.6

Jan 2006

111.5 115.8 120.8 115.4

Feb 2006

109.3 115.0 121.7 115.5

Mar 2006

112.1 116.2 121.9 113.9

Apr 2006

112.8 116.3 120.7 115.2

May 2006

111.4 117.1 121.2 116.2

Jun 2006

112.1 116.8 122.6 114.4

Jul 2006

113.7 117.4 121.5 116.6

Aug 2006

113.1 116.9 121.1 116.6

Sep 2006

111.8 116.3 121.5 115.5

Oct 2006

112.5 117.7 121.2 116.6

Nov 2006

113.0 116.7 122.6 118.2

Dec 2006

113.1 115.4 121.4 118.6

Jan 2007

114.5 116.3 122.0 117.9

Feb 2007

113.5 116.3 124.2 118.7

Mar 2007

113.9 118.2 124.4 119.3

Apr 2007

115.5 119.2 125.2 119.3

May 2007

114.8 118.2 124.6 118.6

Jun 2007

115.6 119.2 125.6 117.5

Jul 2007

117.1 118.8 126.4 119.5

Aug 2007

117.4 119.7 126.4 119.3

Sep 2007

117.1 119.0 127.6 119.0

Oct 2007

116.3 120.5 127.9 120.6

Nov 2007

118.6 120.1 131.0 122.4

Dec 2007

118.6 120.6 131.7 121.9

Jan 2008

118.8 120.3 133.3 119.1

Feb 2008

119.1 122.1 134.1 119.9

Mar 2008

120.6 122.1 134.3 123.3

Apr 2008

122.5 125.1 135.4 124.8

May 2008

122.2 127.0 136.1 127.6

Jun 2008

122.6 129.9 138.8 127.6

Jul 2008

123.8 130.3 139.4 130.3

Aug 2008

123.6 131.6 140.1 129.1

Sep 2008

124.6 130.8 141.1 130.0

Oct 2008

124.6 132.5 141.6 132.3

Nov 2008

126.9 133.2 143.2 133.8

Dec 2008

128.7 136.1 143.4 132.2

Jan 2009

130.3 137.4 143.2 133.7

Feb 2009

130.2 139.4 143.5 132.9

Mar 2009

129.8 138.8 142.2 134.2

Apr 2009

130.7 138.5 144.8 132.6

May 2009

129.5 135.0 143.2 132.0

Jun 2009

130.3 136.2 144.4 134.3

Jul 2009

128.3 134.6 143.3 132.9

Aug 2009

128.7 135.0 143.0 133.5

Sep 2009

129.9 135.5 144.0 130.8

Oct 2009

130.0 138.1 143.6 135.2

Nov 2009

131.9 137.9 145.0 136.9

Dec 2009

132.3 138.2 144.8 137.8

Jan 2010

131.3 139.2 143.0 135.0

Feb 2010

132.9 139.3 144.8 135.5

Mar 2010

130.9 139.0 144.1 134.5

Apr 2010

131.9 138.2 144.5 133.5

May 2010

133.5 139.5 143.7 135.1

Jun 2010

131.7 138.6 143.9 134.7

Jul 2010

132.6 139.2 143.4 133.6

Aug 2010

131.8 139.4 142.7 134.5

Sep 2010

133.4 139.9 143.7 133.2

Oct 2010

133.5 139.8 144.2 133.1

Nov 2010

131.8 140.0 146.5 136.1

Dec 2010

134.0 138.6 145.5 136.5

Jan 2011

131.9 139.9 147.0 134.4

Feb 2011

133.7 140.6 144.3 133.2

Mar 2011

134.7 141.2 145.5 132.6

Apr 2011

133.0 143.4 146.3 133.7

May 2011

134.0 143.4 145.8 131.4

Jun 2011

135.9 142.6 147.6 132.7

Jul 2011

135.1 142.7 146.1 133.9

Aug 2011

137.0 145.6 151.1 132.7

Sep 2011

140.4 146.3 151.4 135.3

Oct 2011

140.3 147.5 151.6 137.8

Nov 2011

137.6 147.5 155.3 140.2

Dec 2011

138.2 148.8 153.8 140.9

Jan 2012

139.2 150.3 152.0 140.3

Feb 2012

139.4 151.9 154.5 140.3

Mar 2012

141.6 152.4 155.4 139.3

Apr 2012

142.0 151.5 156.2 141.7

May 2012

140.3 153.7 152.7 141.2

Jun 2012

141.6 154.3 153.0 140.0

Jul 2012

142.2 152.8 153.8 141.5

Aug 2012

141.1 154.7 154.2 139.6

Sep 2012

141.8 153.9 153.6 140.3

Oct 2012

141.4 155.9 157.7 141.8

Nov 2012

140.0 155.7 156.9 145.2

Dec 2012

140.3 154.4 156.1 143.4

Jan 2013

141.2 153.4 156.2 143.4

Feb 2013

138.9 155.9 155.8 141.2

Mar 2013

139.9 157.5 156.2 144.1

Apr 2013

139.1 157.1 155.0 144.7

May 2013

138.7 156.1 156.4 141.1

Jun 2013

140.6 155.1 157.0 142.1

Jul 2013

139.8 158.3 158.4 143.5

Aug 2013

137.6 155.9 158.0 141.9

Sep 2013

138.5 156.3 158.2 145.5

Oct 2013

140.1 157.1 158.4 145.9

Nov 2013

140.8 154.4 158.7 148.2

Dec 2013

139.4 155.7 157.3 146.9

Jan 2014

139.1 156.0 157.7 145.4

Feb 2014

139.2 156.8 158.1 145.5

Mar 2014

141.2 156.1 157.9 145.8

Apr 2014

139.5 156.1 158.1 145.0

May 2014

138.3 157.0 160.0 144.6

Jun 2014

138.2 155.8 159.8 143.9

Jul 2014

137.5 157.3 158.9 144.7

Aug 2014

138.3 157.3 158.3 145.7

Sep 2014

141.2 157.2 159.5 144.3

The cupcake craze in recent years has been a pop-culture phenomenon. Those who enjoy cupcakes, as well as traditional cakes, are sure to have plenty during Halloween. The CPI for fresh cakes and cupcakes has increased 21 percent since December 2007. 

Before chocolate candy reaches the hands of trick-or-treaters, employees in manufacturing establishments across the Unites States take part in producing the familiar sweets that fill goodie bags and candy jars. To measure the concentration of employment at establishments in a defined area (in this case, counties) to that of a larger area (the United States), the Bureau of Labor Statistics produces a ratio known as the location quotient.

In 2013, Brown County, Indiana, had the highest location quotient (15.8) in the confectionery manufacturing from cacao or chocolate industry among all counties. Pennsylvania had several counties with a high share of employment in this industry. Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, had a location quotient of 14.3 in 2013, the highest of all Pennsylvania counties.

Chocolate Costumes
Counties with the highest relative concentration of employment (location quotient) in the confectionery manufacturing from cacao or chocolate industry, 2013
County Location quotient Employment

Brown, Indiana

15.8 13

Luzerne, Pennsylvania

14.3 558

Blair, Pennsylvania

8.1 132

Cape May, New Jersey

7.0 78

Sevier, Tennessee

5.9 66

Napa, California

4.9 96

Bennington, Vermont

4.8 23

Mercer, Pennsylvania

4.6 61

Alameda, California

4.3 807

Chittenden, Vermont

4.0 109

Taney, Missouri

3.6 28

St. Louis City, Missouri

3.2 200

Cook, Illinois

3.0 2,047

Erie, Pennsylvania

2.8 96

Cambria, Pennsylvania

2.7 42

 

Counties with the highest relative concentration of employment (location quotient) in the formal wear and costume rental industry, 2013
County Location quotient Employment

Douglas, Georgia

15.7 43

Tulare, California

7.5 80

Clermont, Ohio

6.7 26

Jefferson Parish, Louisiana

5.1 71

Leon, Florida

4.3 43

Fulton, Georgia

4.0 216

Rockingham, New Hampshire

3.7 37

Butler, Pennsylvania

3.3 20

Bergen, New Jersey

3.1 98

Utah, Utah

3.0 41

Union, New Jersey

2.6 41

Vigo, Indiana

2.5 9

Kent, Michigan

2.4 61

Essex, Massachusetts

2.3 52

East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

2.2 42

Costumes are another tradition synonymous with Halloween. Within the formal wear and costume rental industry, Douglas County, Georgia, had the highest location quotient (15.7) in 2013. Tulare County, California, and Clermont County, Ohio, had the next-highest location quotients at 7.5 and 6.7, respectively.

These data are from the Consumer Price Index and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) programs. CPI data are not seasonally adjusted. A location quotient equal to 1.0 means that the industry has the same share of county employment as it does in comparison to the share of overall U.S. employment in that industry.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Candy, chocolate, and costumes: a look at data related to sweets and treats at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2014/ted_20141031.htm (visited November 08, 2024).

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