Either my hands have gotten bigger, or my cookies and candies have gotten smaller.  I should clarify, since I was a kid.  And also, that I’m talking about actual cookies and candies.

Anywhoppers, it appears to me we’re going the way of the Japanese.  Not in terms of soda flavors:

But in the way that they are smaller than our 20 oz. versions and cost a fair amount more.

• Pepsi Shiso: Introduced only in Japan as a limited edition for Summer 2009, it’s transparent green.  Size: 147 ml can, price: 147 yen.  Also available in 500ml plastic bottles.  Shiso in English is “labiate” or “perilla”. (via Wikipedia)
• 147 Japanese yen = 1.624497 U.S. dollars
• 500 ml = 16.9 oz. (which is a size now available in the US)
• I’m done with the math, but you get it…

Our Twix’s and Chips Ahoy!’s and Milky Way’s and Oreo’s are exponentially shrinking in size maintain a lower price point.  This site details the trend without any additional references, while this site supplies information they acquired from the Hershey Company (I’m highlighting only key moments):

• 1976 – 1.2 oz… 15 cents
• 1978 – 1.2 oz… 25 cents
• 1980 – 1.05 oz… 25 cents
• 1982 – 1.45 oz… 30 cents
• 1986 – 1.45 oz… 40 cents
• 1986 (same year) – 1.65 oz… 40 cents
• 1995 – 1.55 oz… 50 cents
• 2003 – 1.55 oz… 80 cents
• 2007 – 1.45 oz… 79 cents
• 2010 – 1.55 oz… 95 cents

By this rate, I fear one day all my favorites will be way smaller than I remember, and cost way more than I’d care to pay.

Are Reese’s Pieces the sign of the apocalypse? Can they in fact be the proof in the pudding?  (Actually, Reese’s Pieces in vanilla pudding sounds really tasty.)  Let’s have a look…

• 1.63 oz. bags in 1982
• 43 g bags in 2010
• 43 g = 1.51678036 oz.
• So, I guess not, huh?