Iowa Families Face a Frightening Halloween Haul as Candy and Gas Prices Rise
Higher prices for candy, costumes, and fall activities are adding to the cost of Halloween, while rising gas prices put extra pressure on families traveling to celebrate
DES MOINES, Iowa — Halloween should be a chance for kids to dress up, visit the pumpkin patch and collect candy with friends. But for Iowa families, tariffs and the war in Iran mean the cost of those traditions is adding up, from costumes and pumpkins to bags of candy and the gas it takes to get around.
The price of Halloween candy has climbed sharply in recent years. A 2026 analysis found that a 100-piece bag of assorted Halloween candy now costs an average of $16.96, up 71% from 2021. The increase outpaces overall inflation over the same period.
For Amanda, a Des Moines mom of two young children, the higher costs have been hard to miss. She has noticed prices going up not just for costumes, but also for other activities that make the season special.
“Everything seems to cost more this year. It’s not just the costumes; it’s the pumpkin patch tickets, the pumpkins, candy, and all the little things that make Halloween and fall fun for the kids. You want to make these memories with your children, but you also have to think about what your family can afford.”
The cost of Halloween costumes can also add up quickly. In 2025, it was estimated that a children’s costume priced at $30 could cost $42 to $48 depending on tariffs and when retailers ordered their merchandise. Representatives Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks have both voted in support of Trump’s tariffs.
“As has been widely reported, more than 90 percent of seasonal merchandise for Halloween is imported from China,” Spirit CEO Steven Silverstein told the National Retail Federation. “As a result, the impact of tariffs on these products will be significant. Like many retailers, we are working hard to manage these challenges.”
Even a simple trip to pick out a pumpkin can add to a family’s fall budget. The average retail pumpkin price is $6.20, up from $5.80 in 2023. And for families who want to make a day of it, admission to some pumpkin patches and fall attractions adds another expense on top of the pumpkins themselves.
For rural families, the cost of celebrating can extend beyond what goes into a trick-or-treat bag. When homes are spread farther apart, parents may need to drive children into town or between neighborhoods to trick-or-treat. That makes gas prices another part of the Halloween budget.
Iowa’s average price for regular gasoline was about $4.18 per gallon on October 15, compared with about $2.74 a year earlier. The ongoing war in Iran has disrupted global fuel supplies and contributed to higher energy costs. Those increases can affect families’ everyday driving as well as the extra trips that come with holiday traditions.
Earlier this year, in March, April, May, June, and July, Reps. Miller-Meeks and Nunn voted against ending combat operations in Iran.
Halloween should be about costumes, candy, and memories, not another financial fright. Iowa families deserve policies that help make everyday life more affordable, so celebrating with their kids doesn’t come with such a scary price tag.