This is why Easter baskets are more expensive this year

Add the Easter basket to the list of things that will be pricier this year. Ahead of the holiday weekend, chocolate prices are surging, although one expert sees relief on the horizon.

Easter isn’t quite as candy-focused as other holidays, but it is heavily chocolate‑driven. Roughly 90% of all Easter baskets feature chocolate, according to the National Confectioners Association annual report.

Luckily, the international cocoa market, which has had a rocky couple of years, is showing signs of stabilizing, said David Branch, sector manager, Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, in emailed comments.

Those ups and downs came from West Africa, where about 70% of the world’s chocolate is produced. The region has been struggling with weather disruptions, aging tree stock, and more.

Some of those issues have cleared up, and cocoa futures have dropped, but it will take a while for lower prices to hit the shelves. Shoppers should expect prices similar to or slightly above Valentine’s Day levels, Branch said, with some relief possibly in sight for Halloween as lower cocoa costs work their way through production cycles.

Will jelly beans be a substitute?

Americans have other candy choices, of course. A recent National Confectioners Association survey found that one-third of people celebrating Easter sort their jelly beans by color, while two-thirds prefer a random assortment. Strawberry, cherry and grape are the most popular flavors.

Still, Branch said, “You can’t think Easter without the chocolate bunny. Most consumers will keep that tradition alive, even if they mix in more non‑chocolate candies or gummies to stretch their budgets.”

(The same NCA survey found that 77% of Americans say they bite off the bunny’s ears first, while 16% start with the feet and 6% go for the tail first.)

In a rare bit of good news for consumers, egg prices have declined from last year’s highs. The average cost for a dozen Grade A eggs in the United States was $2.50 in February, the most recent data available. That's a whopping 58% lower than a year earlier.

But if the Easter Bunny needs to fill up the tank to deliver his candy, that’s going to be a lot pricier. Gas was averaging above $4 a gallon in the days just before the holiday.