Okay, admit it: Halloween candy is your secret indulgence. You are buying those KitKats and Snickers for yourself, not just for any kids that might stop by. Come to find out, you are not alone.
According to the National Confectioners Association, 75 percent of Americans buy candy for their households, including what they eat and to give away.
And, 72 percent of parents who took part in the association's October survey said they share in their children's candy collection, with or without their knowledge.
This year, IHS Global Insights expects sales of Halloween candy to rise by 5.5 percent, to $3.8 billion. That's on top of increases of 5 percent in 2015, and 1.7 percent in 2014, according to Bloomberg.
The report defines Halloween candy sales as all seasonally adjusted October purchases on candy and chewing gum. (Did you ever get gum in your Halloween pillow case? Bet you gave it away to your parents, too.)
The increase isn't due to a rise in candy prices, which are actually expected to drop for the first time in 2013.
Instead, IHS Global says people are spending more on Halloween candy because of other good economic factors. Gasoline prices have fallen, compared with a year ago, wages have been going up and unemployment is holding steady.
Halloween ranks as the most candy-focused holiday, in part because there's such a long run-up to Oct. 31 from the time when Halloween branded candy shows up in stores. Last year, the confectioners' association said it had a slight lead over Easter, followed by Christmas and Valentine's Day.
Halloween candy is a touchy subject with a lot of consumers. I watched social media blow up the past couple of weeks over a map designed by product review site Influenster.
It declared that candy corn, that sugary fondant colored and shaped to look like kernels, was the most popular Halloween candy in five of the 50 United States, making it the candy with the most states.
In overall popularity, the top choices were Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, KitKats and Butterfinger bars, according to the map.
Meanwhile, Vox decided to rank the best and worst Halloween candy among 27 selections. It named KitKats number one, followed by Starburst, Twix, Milky Way and Skittles.
(You might question the presence of two non-chocolate candies in the top five, but I can personally vouch for Starburst's popularity, judging by how many my colleagues at NPR's Here & Now consumed whenever a bag appeared on our managing editor's desk.)
At the bottom, according to Vox, were Tootsie Roll anything, Mike and Ike, Twizzlers, Almond Joy and Raisinets. Candy corn, the publication said, fell at number 17.
The Vox list has caused almost as much debate as the candy map. And, of course, there is bound to be push back from people who think all that sugar, chocolate, nuts and caramel are dangerous to your health.
Never fear: The National Confectioners' Association has its response prepared. It says 90 percent of parents who took part in its survey teach their children moderation when it comes to their sack of sweet loot.
Four out of five place limits on how much candy their children can eat per day. (The other person probably took the candy to their office. I'm KIDDING.)
The American Dental Association agrees that it's important to have a plan.
It especially thinks youngsters, and grownups, should eat their sweets with meals or shortly thereafter. If you're going to eat candy, stay away from sugary beverages (no M&Ms and Coke, for instance).
And, says the ADA, make regular visits to your dentist, who can catch problems early when they are easier to "treat." Their word.
So, dive into those plastic orange buckets of candy, sort out the kind you like, or head to your local store for candy deals on Tuesday. All in moderation, of course.
