Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween : NPR

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Customers are souring on costly chocolate, resulting from a few disappointing cocoa crop years. </b> </div> <div id="wrapper"> <header class="contentheader contentheader--one"></header> <section id="main-section"><article class="story"><a id="mainContent"></a><div class="slug-wrap"> <h3 class="slug"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/business/">Business</a> </h3> </div> <div class="storytitle"> <h1>Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween</h1> <input type="hidden" id="titleg-s1-30544" value="Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween" /> <input type="hidden" id="shortTitleg-s1-30544" value="Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween" /> <input type="hidden" id="modelFullUrlg-s1-30544" value="https://www.npr.org/2024/10/28/g-s1-30544/chocolate-candy-prices-halloween" /> </div>  <div id="story-meta" class="story-meta has-byline"> <div class="story-meta__one"> <div class="story-meta__one-inner"> <div class="dateblock"> <time datetime="2024-10-29T05:00:00-04:00"> <span class="date">October 29, 2024</span><span class="time">5:00 AM ET</span> </time> </div> </div>  </div>  <div class="story-meta__two"> <div id="storybyline" class="storybyline-wrap linkLocation"> <div class="bucketwrap byline"> <div class="byline-container--block"> <div class="byline byline--block byline--has-link" aria-label="Byline"> <div class="byline__photo"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/543959056/emma-bowman" rel="author"> <picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=webp" class="img" type="image/webp" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="img" type="image/jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s=100&c=85&f=jpeg" class="img" alt="Emma Bowman, photographed for NPR, 27 July 2019, in Washington DC." data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/07/31/mmorgan_190727_2067-crop_sq-ccee09fafdd83387b5e820d8ef5ee2f0021daedb.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" /></picture> </a> </div> <p class="byline__name byline__name--block"> <a href="https://www.npr.org/people/543959056/emma-bowman" rel="author"> Emma Bowman </a> </p> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </div>  </div>  <div id="storytext" class="storytext storylocation linkLocation"> <div id="resg-s1-30557" class="bucketwrap image large"> <div class="imagewrap has-source-dimensions" data-crop-type="" style=" --source-width: 3498; --source-height: 2367; " > <picture> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/1100/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" class="img" type="image/webp" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" data-format="webp" /> <source srcset="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/1100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" class="img" type="image/jpeg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" data-format="jpeg" /> <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/1100/quality/85/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" class="img" alt="Hershey Co. is introducing more non-chocolate candies to its lineup as costly chocolate candy curbs the company's sales revenue." data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3498x2367+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffd%2Fee%2F34ee6f354ac89d8497465bc25ad3%2Fap100421148121.jpg" data-format="jpeg" /> </picture> </div> <div class="credit-caption"> <div class="caption-wrap"> <div class="caption" aria-label="Image caption"> <p> Hershey Co. is introducing more non-chocolate candies to its lineup as costly chocolate candy curbs the company's sales revenue. <b class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Chris O'Meara/AP </b> <b class="hide-caption"><b>hide caption</b></b> </p> </div> <b class="toggle-caption"><b>toggle caption</b></b> </div> <span class="credit" aria-label="Image credit"> Chris O'Meara/AP </span> </div> </div> <p>As cocoa prices continue to spike, shoppers see the jump-scare prices for chocolate candy at the grocery store this Halloween season.</p> <p>A streak of poor crop seasons has reduced the supply of the key ingredient in chocolate bars, driving up the price for chocolate and confectionery manufacturing from cocoa by 45% from January through September, according to the <a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PCU311351311351">producer price index</a>.</p> <p>Chocolate manufacturers pass off the high costs to consumers, scaring shoppers off KitKats and M&Ms.</p> <p>In the past year, dollar sales for chocolate candies rose 1.5%, driven by inflation and rising shelf prices, according to a report this month from the National Confectioners Association. But, faced with costly chocolate, people are cutting back on M&Ms and Hershey’s bars: The number of chocolate candy units sold over the same period dropped almost 5%.<br></p> <aside id="ad-backstage-wrap" class="ad-wrap backstage" aria-label="advertisement"> <div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div id="ad-backstage-News_Business" class="ad-config ad-backstage has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"n6735.NPR","mobile":"n6735.NPRMOBILE"},"zone":"News_Business","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"g-s1-30544","agg":["593868387","1125422093"]},"location":"backstage","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":true}'></div> <div class="ad-footer "></div> </aside> <h3 class="edTag">Why the high chocolate prices?</h3> <p>The cost of cocoa <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230120289/valentines-day-chocolate-cocoa-prices">hit a 47-year-record high</a> in February but has been increasing for more than a year.</p> <p>The high cocoa prices stem from volatile weather conditions in the world's top cocoa-producing regions, particularly the Ivory Coast and Ghana.</p> <div id="resg-s1-30544-100" class="bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col "> <div class="bucket img"> <a class="imagewrap" id="featuredStackSquareImage1230120289" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230120289/valentines-day-chocolate-cocoa-prices" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/02\/12\/1230120289\/valentines-day-chocolate-cocoa-prices"}' ><picture><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=15&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="webp" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/webp" /><source srcset="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=15&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" type="image/jpeg" /><img src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=15&f=jpeg" data-original="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s=100&c=100&f=jpeg" data-template="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/02/09/ap090202016359_sq-afe54414c387f2b3e837c238307fe7f02e9c2ce7.jpg?s={width}&c={quality}&f={format}" data-format="jpeg" class="img lazyOnLoad" alt="Cocoa prices spiked to an all-time high right before Valentine's Day" loading="lazy" /></picture></a> <div class="bucketblock"> <h3 class="slug"><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/business/">Business </a></h3> <h3><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230120289/valentines-day-chocolate-cocoa-prices" data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"recirculation","action":"story_recirculation_click","clickType":"inset box","clickUrl":"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/02\/12\/1230120289\/valentines-day-chocolate-cocoa-prices"}' >Cocoa prices spiked to an all-time high right before Valentine's Day</a></h3> </div>  </div>  </div>  <p>A heavy rainy season caused disease to hit last year’s crops in West Africa. Warm, dry temperatures and El Niño winds damaged this year’s harvest.</p> <p>According to a recent report from the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, next year will mark the third consecutive year with failed cocoa harvests.</p> <p>As a potential future-proofing measure, farmers have <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/farmers-plant-more-cocoa-outside-africa-prices-rally-2023-10-02/">increased cocoa tree plantings</a> in the African region and South American countries, where orchards have been more productive. However, cocoa trees take at least a few years to produce.</p> <h3 class="edTag">Chocolate makers expand their palates</h3> <p>Chocolate manufacturers will likely feel the pain for some time, which means chocolate candy prices will also stay high for a while.</p> <p>“As we extend into Christmas, it's looking pretty rough for chocolate manufacturers when it comes to those cocoa prices,” said Billy Roberts, a senior economist for food and beverage at CoBank's Knowledge Exchange research division.</p> <p>Barring a dramatic turnaround in the chocolate market, he said it’s tough to see things turning around in time for Valentine's Day.</p> <aside id="ad-secondary-wrap" class="ad-wrap secondary" aria-label="advertisement"> <div class="ad-header "><span>Sponsor Message</span></div> <div id="ad-secondary-News_Business" class="ad-config ad-secondary has-refresh-enabled" data-ad-config='{"network":"\/6735\/","site":{"desktop":"NPRSecondary","mobile":"NPRMobileSecondary"},"zone":"News_Business","targets":{"testserver":"false","isPodcastEpisode":"false","storyId":"g-s1-30544","agg":["593868387","1125422093"]},"location":"secondary","deferred":false,"isBetweenContent":true,"overflowCount":null,"hasRefreshEnabled":true,"isOutstreamVideoEnabled":false}'></div> <div class="ad-footer "></div> </aside> <p>Dan Sadler, principal of client insights at Circana, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/us-candy-companies-sideline-pricey-halloween-chocolates-gummies-licorice-2024-10-08/">told Reuters</a> that consumers are cutting back when faced with costly chocolate.</p> <p>"Chocolate candy, there’s just not as many items per retailer on shelf," he said. “We’re seeing double-digit increases in non-chocolate items.”</p> <p>After months of disappointing chocolate sales, chocolate candy manufacturers have begun diversifying their offerings, expanding their selection of sweeter, gummy and sour treats.</p> <p>Pennsylvania-based company Hershey, for example, recently introduced Jolly Rancher Ropes and Shaq-a-Licious gummies, inspired by the retired basketball star, with plans to roll out more non-chocolate sweets in the coming months.</p> </div> <div class="share-tools share-tools--secondary" aria-label="Share tools"> <ul> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--facebook"><button class="fbStoryg-s1-30544" data-share-facebook='{"storyId": "g-s1-30544" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"facebook"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Facebook</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--flipboard"><button class="storyg-s1-30544" data-share-flipboard='{"storyId": "g-s1-30544" }' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"flipboard"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Flipboard</b></button></li> <li class="share-tools__service share-tools__service--email"><button class='share-tools__email-link' data-story-id='g-s1-30544' data-metrics-ga4='{"category":"share","action":"share","clickName":"email"}' ><b class="share-tools__service-name">Email</b></button></li> </ul> </div>  <div id="newsletter-acquisition-callout-data" data-newsletter="{"newsletterId":"money","title":"Planet Money","marketingHeader":"Sign Up For The Planet Money Newsletter","frequency":"every week","shortDescription":"Just the right amount of economics, sent weekly.","stickyDescription":"Sign up for the Planet Money newsletter. 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Why you’re seeing scary-high chocolate candy prices this Halloween : NPR