Halloween Economics

This is the motley crew we managed to costume up at the casa de fingerprint this year. I told them if they didn't take a nice photo I would eat all their candy. Nothing says Happy Family Memory like threatening children before declaring, "Say Cheese!"

We had Buzz Lightyear.

His long hair hanging out the back of the hood like an 80s rat tail was sweet.

Creepy Skeleton Man
AKA I am a lazy 8 year old who has figured out I just need a costume to get the candy.

and... The Karate Kid.

Obviously my gentle natured Hadji had trouble getting into character.

Now, onto the opinion based blog portion of the post. We went out trick or treating with some friends and their offspring. It was great fun. We hit a church trunk or treat. Then we hit the neighborhood and the boys and girls had their little bags and pumpkins chock full by 830 when we headed for home. As I sorted out the candy into nut and nut free piles that night, it hit me...

A child's trick or treat bag is a great thermometer for our economy.

I thought this as I noted the absence of Reese's cups, Three Musketeers and Milky Ways. You see in a flourishing economy, chocolate abounds. The over abundance of smarties says, "Tighten those belt loops."

Here is the candy break down:

Thriving Economy Candies:
Reese's Cups
Three Musketeer
Milky Ways
Twix
Snickers
and even Baby Ruth.
**Don't even try and put Almond Joys in this category. They are what desperate children eat around December 1st.

OK Economy Candies:
Nerds
Starburst
Pixie Sticks
M&M's
Airheads

We are in trouble and it shows Candies:
Laffy Taffy
Smarties
Double Bubble Gum
Gobstoppers
Dum Dums
and those weird "Candy Sticks" from the Dollar Store. They are cigarettes folks. Just because the end has not been dabbed with the tell tale red paint, don't be fooled. They are Candy Cigarettes in disguise. (I prefer to buy my kids the actual ones that come in a fake cigarette box, like I had as a child. Ah, sweet dysfunctional memory passing down. I love the holidays.)

Anyhoo the worst thing you as an economist trick or treater can see is... Hard Candy. If a StarBrite Mint hits your kids bucket, you best get home and hunker down.