Halloween chocolate treats are smaller this year, which may lead to Canadians handing out more than last year. (ID 46311126 © Darryl Brooks | Dreamstime.com)

By paNOW Staff

Shrinkflation

What’s haunting your wallets this Halloween?

Oct 28, 2025 | 2:54 PM

With Halloween landing on a Friday, you may be handing out more treats than last year, but there’s another reason your wallets may be spooked – Shrinkflation.

According to the 2025 Halloween Treat Cost Report from Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, households will be spending 10 to 20 per cent more than last year.

Due to drought and crop disease in West Africa, cocoa prices are up; cardboard, plastics, and logistics costs continue to rise; and, candy makers are cutting weights and counts instead of raising prices outright. That means chocolate bars are smaller, chip bags are lighter, and Canadians are giving more pieces per child out of a mix of guilt and generosity.

“People don’t want kids to notice the difference,” wrote Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, a food expert at Dalhousie University. “They’ll toss in another bar or bag without hesitation. Shrinkflation doesn’t just shrink products – it stretches generosity.”

In 2024 the average household spent $22 to $37 on treats. This year, those smaller bags and guilt-driven generosity will raise household spending prices to between $25 and $45.

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According to the treat cost report, more expensive ‘premium items like soft drinks and seaweed snacks’ are being handed out more across the country too.

Wait, what? Seaweed snacks?!

Don’t worry, in Saskatchewan, the number one most popular treats during Hallo-week are Old Dutch Hawkins Cheezies, according to 7-Eleven which revealed each province’s favourites. In fact, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are two of only three provinces to even have the Cheezies in their top five most popular treats.

Hawkins Cheezies are the #1 treat for Halloween in Saskatchewan, according to 7-Eleven. (ID 87717530 © Bailey Vesper | Dreamstime.com)

Coming in at second most popular in the province were Reese Peanut Butter Cups, followed by Kit Kat, Double Bubble Gum, and Doritos Nachos.

On Oct. 31, 7-Eleven is giving away free small Slurpee beverages and hot chocolates to anyone who arrives in costume.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com