(Salt Lake City, UT) — A spike in candy prices resulted in a more expensive Halloween than normal for Utah families. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent a whopping 12-point-two-billion dollars on Halloween candy this year. Data shows a 13-percent increase in candy prices in 2023. International factors are thought to be the root cause, including surging sugar prices due to a drought in Thailand and India. The drought also impacted the Ivory Coast, which is the world’s leading cocoa producer.