Spooky prices this Halloween? How tariffs may hit candy, costumes, and decorations
Donald Trump’s economic policies are set to spook many people over Halloween.
What might Donald Trump wear this Halloween? Perhaps he could put on some orange face paint and go as a pumpkin, or dig out a wispy blond wig and dress up as a banshee.
Or what about an evil dictator, like something from 1984, an authoritarian figure who controls the media, how people think, and what they say in public. Too ridiculous? Never mind.
To be honest, Trump’s economic policies are scary enough — he doesn’t need a costume. Someone should print them off onto one of those sandwich board costumes you see with a huge arrow pointing you to a new deli down an alleyway, that’ll scare away the pesky children from your doorstep.
Despite his economic policies that are plunging the US into depths untold, the National Retail Federation expects spending on everything Halloween related to hit a record $13.1 billion this year, surpassing the previous record of $12.2 billion.
Katherine Cullen of the National Retail Federation said: “We’ve seen actually a big focus on discount stores this year. People are aware of what’s going on with tariffs and they’re gonna invest in what’s important to them, but they’re also gonna be very smart with their money.”
CBS spoke to Magic etc Ft Worth Costume Inc. owner Derek Kennedy, who explained that “most of the costumes are made overseas and through the different manufacturers, the tariffs have ranged anywhere from 5% to 19%,” meaning prices are set to skyrocket.
The same outlet reported that: “an average bag of fun-size chocolate bars is up approximately $5 compared to last year,” with an “average bag of snack-sized chocolate bars” up about $2.
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Earlier in the year, New Jersey’s Halloween & Costume Association said (via the South China Morning Post) that Halloween decorations and costumes could be forced to sell Halloween goods at double their pre-tariff prices: “costumes that previously sold for US$19.99 could now retail for US$39.99, while simple masks formerly priced at US$4.99 could jump to US$9.99.”
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