Happy Halloween? Frightful inflation lingers in the candy aisle

Summary

• Candy and chewing gum inflation exceeded the rate of all items in September 2026.
• Prices for candy rose 7.7% year-over-year in September.
• Overall consumer prices increased 3.7% year-over-year in September.
• Candy inflation remained elevated despite overall inflation cooling from its 2022 peak.
• The Consumer Price Index data for September reflects a gap caused by a government shutdown.
• Liz Everett Krisberg serves as Head of the Bank of America Institute.
• David Michael Tinsley serves as Senior Economist at the Bank of America Institute.
• The Bank of America Institute is a think tank dedicated to uncovering insights on the economy, sustainability, and global transformation.
• The materials are prepared for general information purposes only and do not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice.
• Views expressed are solely those of the Bank of America Institute and listed authors, not the BofA Global Research department.