Department of Caramel, Nougat, and Fireballs
The following is the annual Orange and Black Book report for Candy Year 2022 (CY2022) ending October 31, 2022. The weather in the Middle Tennessee reporting region was chilly (mid 50s) with light rain. These factors, coupled with the holiday falling on a Monday, local rise in popularity of the Trunk-or-Treat phenomenon, poor economy including increased candy and costume prices, and post-pandemic introversion combined to affect the overall demand and supply of candy.
The Middle Tennessee station reports 30 T-o-Ters with a median age of 10 +/- 3.5 years, with fewer entry-level T-o-Ters than usual. Although the completion of an additional seven homes since CY2021 gave leading indicator of an increased demand, forecasters overestimated this demand failing to account for team sporting events and extra-neighborhood socialization.
The bottom line was a seasonally adjusted 30 T-o-Ters who were met with an ample supply of Kit-Kat, Reese cups, Hershey Bars with Almonds, Snickers, and assorted chocolate novelties. Carnauba-wax products were under-represented, with neither Haribo Gold Bears nor Gummy Worms being offered at any of the distribution centers.
In an effort to bring the suppliers in more convenient proximity to the consumers, many of the distributors assembled in a makeshift candy market at the center of the neighborhood. While developmental psychologists caution against this activity as it removes the requirement for the consumers to travel door-to-door, the distributors prefer this arrangement as it promotes social banter, note-comparison regarding home-builder deficiencies, and ability to provide value-added services such as music and log fires.
Costume imagination set a new low in the years since these statistics have been tabulated. The mode was toward domesticated canines (dalmations) and felines, with municipal services (police, fire) remaining a strong sector. Glowing graven-image masks rallied this year, with fewer princesses and power rangers.
It was lights-out at 8:00 PM CDT, in time to see most of the Monday Night Football game.