Halloween is big business, with Americans expected to spend $4.1 billion on candy this year. Explore the most popular treats in every state, from chocolate favorites to regional candy standouts.

Candy prices rose 7.7% over the past year, but Halloween shoppers are expected to spend $4.1 billion on sweets using coupons and sales strategies.

Chocolate costs much more than it did a year ago, yet shoppers still fill their carts. National Chocolate Day falls on Oct. 28, in the middle of the year's busiest candy-buying weeks. The higher prices haven't stopped the buying, and even the companies selling the candy say so.

At Smart & Final, an all-chocolate Halloween candy mix costs $24-99 for 160 pieces, or about 41 cents per ounce. Shoppers looking to save more could opt for non-chocolate candy, including Tootsie Rolls, for $8.99, or about 24 cents per ounce.

Since these candies have been with us our entire lives, many of us might not realize that they became popular when Baby Boomers were children.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups took the No. 1 spot by ounces of candy sold. The top five were all chocolate: Peanut M&M's came in second, Hershey's Milk Chocolate third, M&M's fourth, and Snickers fifth. Sour Patch Kids was the first non-chocolate candy on the list, coming in at No. 7.

Manufacturers are pushing familiar favorites like gummies and chocolate in new ways, feeding a growing trend towards interesting textures and novel flavors.

By Luke Fortney I have to admit: For a food writer, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. Most days, I’d rather fill up on something savory, spicy or fermented, and leave dessert to the pros. (Hi, Mahira Rivers!

Arizona’s family-owned Cerreta Candy Company sells the same “old-fashioned” candy, like taffy and creams, that the founder launched it with