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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.
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.
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 April 16, 2024).
United States Department of Labor
