PALM SPRINGS – Wait for it. Californians have a new favorite Halloween candy – again. They have pushed aside last year’s favorite for Skittles, according to CandyStore.com.

The birthplace of Jelly Bellys has acquired more of an affinity for Skittles than last year’s winner M&M’s or prior winner, salt water taffy – to say nothing for jelly beans.  The evidence is in the sale of more than 1.6 million pounds of Skittles. Moreover, Californians prefer to taste the Venice Beach rainbow.

M&M’s have fallen to second place with 1.2 million pounds sold. In third place is the once much-loved salt water taffy with sales of 891,000 pounds sold.

For more than 11 years, CandyStore.com has been delivering tons of bulk candy around the country. As preeminent bulk candy dealers, it has a wealth of candy sales data at their fingertips from which they draw.

Halloween Candy Quick Facts

  • 179 million Americans celebrate Halloween
  • Nearly one-fourth of all Halloween purchases are made online
  • Among those who celebrate Halloween, 95 percent will purchase candy
  • They will spend about $27 on average
  • In Oregon, full-sized candy bars are the norm for trick-or-treaters to receive
  • More than 50 percent of parents stash some Halloween candy to enjoy later in the year

Industry research showed in 2015 that online candy sales were increasing by 15 percent. People are realizing they can save time and money by skipping the store and purchasing from the comfort of their home. But will you buy the right candy?

America’s Top 10 Halloween candy this year are:

  • Skittles
  • M&M’s
  • Snickers
  • Reese’s Cups
  • Starburst
  • Candy Corn
  • Hot Tamales
  • Hershey’s
  • Tootsie Pops
  • Jolly Ranchers

This year, the National Retail Federation is estimating that shoppers will spend $2.6 billion on Halloween candy. That is lower than their $2.7 billion estimate last year.

With consumer confidence at its highest point in a September since 2004, fueled mostly by low unemployment and low inflation expectations, a CandyStore.com spokeswoman said, “We feel like 2018 sales could be even bigger.”

What does that mean for Skittles in California and your favorite candy?

In a new, interactive map, CandyStore.com ranked the most popular Halloween candy in each state in America, as well as the first and second runners up. The results are grounded in the 11 years of sales data, and some of the favorites are pretty unexpected. See what other states favor Skittles.

Check it out here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Skittles: Shutterstock