A FEW TREAT-BUYING TRICKS : SOME TIPS FOR CANDY BUYING:.

Byline: Phil Lempert Chicago Tribune 

Americans really love candy. According to U.S. Department of Commerce figures, on average each of us eats a whopping 23.4 pounds each year.

To candy manufacturers, a disappointing Halloween is, well, downright scary. It's the single highest candy-selling period, followed by Easter. To encourage customers to add Halloween candy to their weekly shopping list, more companies are producing items with Halloween appeal.

Although Hershey Foods has been producing seasonal wrappings for holidays such as Easter since the late '60s, only in the last few years has it added Halloween items.

Goelitz Confectionary, makers of Jelly Belly jelly beans, has its ``autumn mix'' of beans, which includes cantaloupe, peach, top banana, raspberry, toasted marshmallow, chocolate pudding and peanut butter, all in appropriate fall shades. M&M/Mars has introduced packages of M&M's minis in snack-size orange and brown boxes, 3 Musketeers miniatures with orange, red and silver wrappings and ``Chocolate Creme Monsters'' Milky Ways.

Susan Smith, senior vice president of public affairs for the National Confectioners Association, says that companies can offer these seasonal products because of advances in inventory control and increased communication between the manufacturer, distributor and retailer. This allows them to accurately forecast how much they hope to sell - and not be stuck with too much brown and orange in December.

Count on good deals. Statistics from Information Resources Inc. confirm that prices do not go up during the Halloween period and, with some products, they actually go down. As always, look for sales and coupons.

Remember that much of the seasonal candy is packaged in ``fun sizes'' - diminutive boxes or bags that cost more because you're paying for the extra packaging. Weigh your options - literally.

More than 90 percent of candy and gum purchases are made in supermarkets as ``impulse'' items, according to the Point-of-Purchase Advertising Institute Consumer Buying Habits Study. Decide beforehand what you want and how much you plan to spend.

Mix and match chocolate candy, which costs more, with less expensive items, such as peanut butter kisses, lollipops and bubble gum (sugar-free gum is even better).

Don't buy too much. Chocolate candy has a shelf life of less than a year. Candy with nuts should be consumed within six months.

Look beyond the candy aisle for seasonal treats.