Though inflation has hit Americans’ grocery budgets this year, any resulting thriftiness seems to go out the window when it comes to Halloween spending. According to the National Retail Federation, seasonal sales took a massive post-pandemic rebound in 2021, rising more than any year in the prior decade, and we’ve only continued to hit record spending levels every year since. This year, we’re projected to spend a record $12.2 billion on Halloween purchases this year, with $3.6 billion of that being spent on candy. So which specific confections are Americans buying in 2023? CandyStore.com comes through once again with a U.S. map projecting the most popular candies state by state.

　　

The most popular Halloween candies in 2023

Each year online vendor CandyStore.com releases insights based on more than 15 years’ worth of sales data and publishes a U.S. map noting the most popular candy picks (based on pounds sold in bulk, via CandyStore.com and other outlets) in every state. The map above has many similar favorites as last year: Montana still loves Twix, Michigan is all about Starburst, and my home state of Illinois is still all-in on Sour Patch Kids. (However, the data for Illinois might be skewed by my own personal level of Sour Patch Kids consumption, and if so, my apologies.)

　　But there are some notable differences, too. For instance, Hot Tamales are now a more popular option than Skittles (cumulatively, based on sales by weight), a fact that could speak to our collective appetite for fiery heat in everything we eat, or perhaps to a diminished availability of Hot Tamales at retail outlets, thus driving people to purchase online. Skittles, meanwhile, are in dead heat with Sour Patch Kids, and exactly half of the top 10 Halloween candies in the United States are chocolate while the others are fruity (or candy corn).

　　Here’s where each state lands in 2023:

　　Alabama: SkittlesAlaskas: TwixArizona: Hershey KissesArkansas ButterfingerCalifornia: M&M’sColorado: Milky WayConnecticut: Almond JoyDelaware: Sour Patch KidsFlorida: Reese’s CupsGeorgia: Jolly RanchersHawaii: Hershey’s Mini BarsIdaho: SnickersIllinois: Sour Patch KidsIndiana: StarburstIowa: Reese’s CupsKansas: M&M’sKentucky: Reese’s CupsLouisiana: LemonheadsMaine: Sour Patch KidsMaryland: Hershey KissesMassachusetts: ButterfingerMichigan: StarburstMinnesota: Hot TamalesMississippi: 3 MusketeersMissouri: Almond JoyMontana: TwixNebraska: Sour Patch KidsNevada: Hershey’s Mini BarsNew Hampshire: Reese’s CupsNew Jersey: Tootsie PopsNew Mexico: Hot TamalesNew York: Sour Patch KidsNorth Carolina: M&M’sNorth Dakota: Hot TamalesOhio: Blow PopsOklahoma: SkittlesOregon: M&M’sPennsylvania: Hershey’s Mini BarsRhode Island: M&M’sSouth Carolina: SkittlesSouth Dakota: StarburstTennessee: Tootsie PopsTexas: Sour Patch KidsUtah: Candy CornVermont: M&M’sVirginia: ButterfingerWashington DC: M&M’sWashington: Tootsie PopsWest Virginia: Hershey’s Mini BarsWisconsin: Butterfinger

　　Wyoming: Reese’s CupsAre you surprised by what your state chose as its go-to Halloween candy? If you live in Ohio, you’d better say yes. Blow Pops? Who actually likes getting to the center of a Blow Pop? Truly horrific. But then, I suppose it is spooky season.