California's Favorite Halloween Candy Is...?

CALIFORNIA — With Halloween just around the corner, it begs the question: What are Californians' favorite Halloween candies?

It’s a big deal for candy-makers and businesses leading up to the holiday. On a typical week Americans spend $300 million on candy, but experts say U.S. candy sales should hit $2.5 billion for Halloween 2016.

Two recent surveys of California tastes disagree on what the top candy is in the state.

1) The Influenster website surveyed over 40,000 readers to determine which Halloween candies are favorites and according to Influenster’s readers, California's favorite candy is: Life Savers.

2) Candystore.com, however, says that California's favorite candy is Assorted Salt Water Taffy. Candystore.com sold exactly 1,650,000 pounds of each candy to Californians over the last 8 years. (how does that even happen?) M&M's came in second with 1,188,000 pounds and Skittles came in third with 726,000 pounds.

"California may be sitting on a massive fault line, but the amount of salt water taffy its people consume will at least keep their teeth stuck together," the website says. "Californians consume 1.6 million pounds of salt water taffy, and it’s proven to be a crowd favorite."

Interactive graphic via CandyStore.com.

Here is a state-by-state breakdown from the Influenster:

Alabama - AirHeads
Alaska - Snickers
Arizona - Toblerone
Arkansas - Skittles
California - Lifesavers
Colorado - Milky Way
Connecticut - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Delaware - 3 Musketeers
Florida - Nestlé Crunch Bar
Georgia - Pixy Stix
Hawaii - 100 Grand Bar
Idaho - Butterfinger
Illinois - Snickers
Indiana - Reese's Pieces
Iowa - Twix
Kansas - Twizzlers
Kentucky - Whoppers
Louisiana - Swedish Fish
Maine - Starburst
Maryland - Almond Joy
Massachusetts - Starburst
Michigan - M&M's
Minnesota - 100 Grand Bar
Mississippi - Hershey's Kisses
Missouri - Hershey's Kisses
Montana - Kit Kat Bar
Nebraska - Skittles
Nevada - Jolly Ranchers
New Hampshire - Tootsie Rolls
New Jersey - Sour Patch Kids
New Mexico - 3 Musketeers
New York - Sweet Tarts
North Carolina - Butterfinger
North Dakota - Sour Patch Kids
Ohio - Milky Way
Oklahoma - M&M's
Oregon - Candy corn
Pennsylvania - Swedish Fish
Rhode Island - Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
South Carolina - Candy corn
South Dakota - Laffy Taffy
Tennessee - Candy corn
Texas - Candy corn
Utah - Nerds
Vermont - Almond Joy
Virginia - Reese's Pieces
Washington - AirHeads
West Virginia - Oreos
Wisconsin - Laffy Taffy
Wyoming - Candy corn
District of Columbia - Twix

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image: patch.com

— Patch editor Scott Anderson contributed to this report.