Halloween chocolate prices rise 20% to 30% amid higher cocoa costs

Consumers shopping for Halloween candy are encountering noticeably higher prices for chocolate, with some varieties costing 20 to 30 percent more than a year ago. The increase is attributed to elevated cocoa prices that affected production costs for many chocolate bars currently on the market.

"So that really has pushed prices higher. In fact in some cases chocolate for Halloween is up 20 to 30 per cent. The packaging is also more expensive and of course to truck everything all over the place, and to get that food on shelves did cost more this year," said Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie's Food Analytics Lab.

Charlebois noted that while chocolate prices have risen sharply, the cost of other Halloween treats has not seen a comparable increase.