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The Dime · Worksheet Name Date Period

Thursday, October 29 · thedime.news/issues/2026-10-29/

Halloween candy costs more this year. How to find the real deal

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Halloween is Saturday, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) expects Americans to spend about $13.5 billion on it. About $4.1 billion of that is candy, and 96% of shoppers plan to buy some. The NRF also found that 79% of shoppers expect Halloween prices to be higher this year because of tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods.

One news report priced a 100-piece bag of candy at $16.96, up 3.5% from last year. That is inflation: the same thing costs more than it did before. If you are buying candy for a party, or handing it out, the price on the front of the bag does not tell you the whole story. What matters is the price for each piece.

Your money: Compare candy by price per piece

A bigger bag with a bigger price tag is not always a worse deal. To compare, find the unit price: the cost of one piece, one ounce or one item. Divide the total price by the number of pieces.

A 100-piece bag at $16.96 costs $16.96 ÷ 100 = about $0.17, or 17 cents, a piece. A 60-piece bag at $12 costs $12 ÷ 60 = $0.20, or 20 cents, a piece. The cheaper bag costs less, but the bigger bag is the better deal per piece.

Unit price only helps if you need that many pieces. A deal on 100 pieces is no bargain if you only need 30. Pick the amount you need first, then compare unit prices.

Words to know

Write what each word means in your own words.

  1. Unit price
  2. Inflation
  3. Revenue

Questions

The story

  1. In one sentence, what happened in the top story?
  2. If candy costs more, would you buy less, buy a cheaper kind, or pay the higher price? Why?

Do the math

  1. A 100-piece bag of Halloween candy costs $16.96. About how much is that for each piece? Show your work.

Your turn

  1. Store A sells a bag of 36 candy bars for $9. Store B sells a bag of 70 for $14. What does each cost per bar? Which is the better deal per bar, and how much would you save on 70 bars by buying at that store?

Quiz

  1. Which candy deal is cheapest per piece? Circle one.
    1. $15 for 50 pieces
    2. $20 for 80 pieces
    3. $12 for 30 pieces
    4. They cost the same per piece

What do you think?

  1. When prices go up on something you buy every year, what do you cut first: how much you buy, the brand, or something else? Why? Answer in two or three sentences, and give a reason.

Answer key

Words to know

Questions

  1. Answers will vary: a clear one-sentence summary of the top story.
  2. Answers will vary. Look for a specific reason tied to the story.
  3. about 17 cents. $16.96 ÷ 100 = $0.1696, which rounds to about 17 cents a piece.
  4. A: $9 ÷ 36 = $0.25 a bar. B: $14 ÷ 70 = $0.20 a bar. Store B is better. 70 bars at A cost 70 × $0.25 = $17.50, so you save $17.50 − $14 = $3.50.
  5. B. $20 for 80 pieces. $15 ÷ 50 = $0.30, $20 ÷ 80 = $0.25 and $12 ÷ 30 = $0.40. The $20 bag for 80 pieces has the lowest unit price.
  6. Answers will vary. Look for a clear opinion backed by a reason.

Optional: tomorrow's bell-ringer, before first period

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