Read This Week's Locke Notes Newsletter!

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Dear Friend,

Prepare to be spooked! Forget the scary costumes; "shrinkflation" is a silent yet subtle disruptor that has infiltrated the candy aisle this year, spiking by thirteen percent since last year.

It's a bit like income taxes but for kids.

Halloween candy is not just pricier these days; it is also shrinking in size. This past weekend, I was discouraged after I ripped open a bag of Reese's and found more air than that awesome chocolate and peanut butter combo. I will also note that the Reese's itself was noticeably smaller.

While shrinkflation is not just unique to Halloween candy, it is more noticeable since it is only on the shelves once a year.

According to data ([link removed]) from the National Retail Federation's annual holiday survey, consumer spending on Halloween candy will reach a record high this year, totaling $3.6 billion, up from $3.1 last year.

Here are two scary findings:

For full-sized candy bars, an 18-piece variety pack of Snickers, Twix, 3 Musketeers, and Milky Way is
priced ([link removed]) at $16.99 at Target. Remember the Reese's I mentioned earlier? That single bag cost ([link removed]) me $14.79.

Pairing with record inflation, this upward pricing trend is further exacerbated by the supply not being as available as it was in the past.

It has been reported ([link removed].) that the price of cocoa has hit a 44-year high due to heavy rains in West Africa last year and "a subsequent drought, which is going."

Extreme weather across the globe is also resulting in the price of sugar rising, as the growth rate of US sugar exports dropped by 2.38%, per the USDA. ([link removed])

Without an end in sight, prices are expected to continue to climb into Christmas and through Valentine's Day and Easter in 2024.

To tackle rising food prices, lawmakers should focus on creating energy policies that lower costs for farmers, subsequently benefiting consumers. Learn more about the efforts of our Center for Food, Power, and Life here ([link removed]) .

Though trick-or-treaters may have to visit more houses to collect enough candy due to shrinkflation, Halloween is all about enjoyment and fun for everyone, regardless of age.

Consider this your validation to dress up and be a kid again.

Wishing you a happy and safe Halloween!

-Bethany


** Save the Date
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We are excited to let you know that tickets for the Carolina Leadership Conference 2024 go on sale next Monday, November 6th!
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This week, we hooked up with Daniel Di Martino, founder of the Dissident Project, to chat about the rise in socialism in the US and what he is doing to fight back.

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