Easter 2025 is proving more expensive than anticipated for Australian households, particularly when it comes to chocolate, a seasonal staple. Despite a recent dip in global cocoa prices, many consumers are still paying significantly more at the checkout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reasons lie in a lingering combination of earlier commodity spikes, international trade tensions, and strategic pricing by major manufacturers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a detailed report by 7NEWS<\/a><\/em>, these factors have converged to sustain high retail prices across the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While global cocoa prices have dropped 21 percent compared to Easter 2024, they remain nearly 200 percent higher than during the 2023 season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prices surged from $6,500 to $12,500<\/strong> per tonne between March 2024 and January, before easing amid improved forecasts for the 2025 harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“In recent years, adverse weather conditions have affected crops in Africa, which we aren\u2019t seeing right now,” said Josh Gilbert<\/em>, market analyst at eToro<\/strong>. He added,<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nRecord high cocoa prices through 2024 mean consumers globally will still be feeling the pinch when it comes to buying Easter treats this year, and Aussies are no exception.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Australian Retail Prices Rise Amid Global and Domestic Pressures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Australian shoppers<\/a> are paying more for familiar Easter chocolates. A 180g Cadbury Dairy Milk block now costs $8, up from $6 last year, while a Ferrero Rocher Easter egg has increased from $8 to $10. In some cases, prices have risen by as much as $2 per product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“Both are looking to negotiate with President Trump,” he said, referring to Ivory Coast and Ghana which together produce around 70 percent<\/strong> of the world\u2019s cocoa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Production Issues and Trade Policies Slow Price Recovery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to Rabobank commodities analyst Paul Joules<\/em>, tariffs introduced in early April triggered a brief rise in prices, before a subsequent decline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“It just adds to the volatility and then at the same time you\u2019ve got some genuine supply and production issues,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Joules also noted that producers in West Africa are buffered from short-term price fluctuations due to government-controlled farmgate pricing, which slows the pace of price correction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“That\u2019s another element that suggests (prices) will be a bit slower to come down,” he added.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Consumer Habits Shift as Spending Increases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Despite rising chocolate prices, total Easter spending in Australia is expected to reach $4.8 billion<\/strong>, up from $4 billion in 2024, according to a Finder<\/em> survey of 1,004 respondents. While 49 percent of people planned to buy chocolate\u2014down from 54 percent last year\u2014the average individual spend has risen from $57 to $68.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To manage these pressures, many households are adjusting their traditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“A lot of families are giving homemade gifts like rocky road or lollies in small hampers instead this Easter, to save money while still enjoying the festivities,” said Sarah Megginson<\/em> of Finder.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Environmental and Social Concerns Add to Seasonal Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Farmers in New South Wales\u2019 Riverina region<\/em> have reported a surge in wild rabbit activity, with paddocks being overrun nightly and significant damage to crops and pastures reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his Easter<\/a> address, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher referenced widespread uncertainty and hardship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“Trade wars, military wars and cyber wars. Natural disasters and climate change. Cost of living, recession, political instability … we can be short on reasons to hope,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Easter chocolate prices have surged across Australia, driven by past supply shocks and trade disruptions.
\nConsumers are feeling the squeeze as Easter chocolate prices remain high despite improved global forecasts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":103311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103310","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103310"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103319,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103310\/revisions\/103319"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}