Nothing says we’re in a recession quite like getting pennies and penny candy on Halloween. Well, that’s not quite where we’re at according to one dad on TikTok, but his examples in his video regarding recessional indicator candy from a trunk-or-treat event do sort of scream ‘nationwide financial dire straits.’
The dad, whose name is Joe Benavidez, explains in his TikTok that he attended a trunk-or-treat event with his kid and the loot they went home with was nothing to get too excited over. According to Joe, much of it proves just how unwell the economy is, and he might actually be on to something, especially when it comes to portion sizes.
A dad showed his kid’s recession indicator candy from a trunk-or-treat event.
@joebenavidez01 we live in a decent neighborhood and the school that hosted this is one of the best schools in the state… you know it's bad #trunkortreat #halloween #candy #recession ♬ original sound – Joe Benavidez
In Joe’s TikTok, he explains that he and his family just got home from a trunk-or-treat. For those who might not be familiar with the event, it’s like a trick-or-treat format, except kids walk from car to car in a sectioned-off parking lot, trick-or-treating with participants who have their trunks open and set up with treats.
Some of the loot that Joe’s child ended up with includes bags of cheese balls, a mini size pack of Smarties, and a single gummy bear wrapped on its own. Yes, that’s right. One gummy bear by itself, not in a little fruit snack-style pack that you might otherwise find it in. Overall, there is a lot of fruity candy in general, as opposed to pricier chocolate candy, which could be another recession indicator. Or fruity candy could be a safer bet when it comes to kids’ allergies.
Joe wrote in the caption, “We live in a decent neighborhood and the school that hosted this is one of the best schools in the state…You know it’s bad.”
When it comes to the gummy bear specifically, people agreed in the comments that it’s a “waste of plastic” for the single gummy to be wrapped on its own. Be that as it may, apparently, this is a thing.
“You can tell also because the candy is all gummies, suckers, hard sugars and no chocolate,” a user commented on Joe’s TikTok. “Chocolate is way expensive now.”
Another wrote, “I lost it with the one gummy bear.”
Someone else suggested, “That’s not a recession indicator…That’s a corporate greed indicator. Less product for the same or higher price. Also, for anyone curious, the big bags of chocolate at Walmart are cheaper per unit in the bag than the fruit-flavored candy. So not having chocolate means they actually spent more money.”
Some people have chosen to give out items other than candy on Halloween.
To combat this apparent issue with buying the cheaper candy that comes in smaller portions, some people shared in the comments that they have other plans about what to give out to trick-or-treaters.
“We’re giving out Debbie cakes this year,” a user commented. “Actual groceries are cheaper than candy.”
Another person wrote, “I’m giving out actual snacks. Fruit snacks, Goldfish, chips, etc. They are cheaper than candy.”
Someone also wrote that they are hanging out tiny duck trinkets instead of candy.
And, a user added, “I got a box of macaroni one time when I was a kid. Didn’t understand then but I do now.”
Others blame trunk-or-treat events.
Other parents and adults in general think trunk-or-treat events have taken the magic out of Halloween. When Joe posted the video, some users commented that trick-or-treating is dead because of trunk-or-treat outings. The truth might be somewhere in the middle, though.
Most towns that promote trunk-or-treat events still offer trick-or-treating on Halloween for those who want to participate. Sometimes, trunk-or-treats are meant to supplement Halloween festivities, not replace them. If people are unable to participate in handing out treats for both events, though, that’s an issue with the companies setting the prices.
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