This Halloween, the fright isn’t just at the haunted house. Rising prices for everything from groceries to gas are driving many consumers to cut back.
\n\n“I’m walking to save a little bit of money,” said Lakisha Reardon, a legal assistant. “I’m bringing in my own lunch.”
\n\nReardon said she has especially seen her electric bill spike this year. She said she is paying an extra $150 every month.
\n\n“I’m ready to invest in candles,” she said.
\n\nBut one thing she won’t give up? Halloween candy.
\n\nAverage prices for chewing gum and candy have soared 8.1% over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
\n\nDespite the higher prices, Americans are still buying treats.
\n\n“I remember being a little kid and being super excited when I would get Reese’s Cups,” said Abby Mynatt, a college student who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. “I want to give that to some other children.”
\n\nMynatt, 21, said she usually spends around $50 for Halloween candy. She is expecting to shell out a bit more money this year despite financial pressures.
\n\n“I certainly think there are a little more tense things with my budget right now,” she said. “But I still think that certain…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/