“Trick or Treat”: The Numbers Behind the Nation’s Sweet Tooth

When it comes to candy consumption, one holiday rules them all: Halloween. The National Confectioners Association (NCA) expects that Americans will spend a “spooktacular” two billion dollars on sweets during the 2010 season. It seems that as a nation, we have forgone all tricks in favor of treats. As you snack on Snickers or munch on Mellowcreme Pumpkins, millions of your fellow Americans will be doing the same, whether five or fifty years old! Here are a few fun facts from the NCA to chew on:

· More than 93% of children go trick-or-treating each year.

· 90% of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.

· 30% of kids report that they SORT their candy first when returning home with trick-or-treat loot.

· 62% of adults will be handing out candy because “it’s a personal favorite” or it’s a household tradition (55%)

· Four-in-ten (41%) adults admit that they sneak sweets from their own candy bowl.

If for some reason you miss out on the festivities this Halloween, you can always hit up the half-price candy sales in early November!