Here’s how much an Easter basket will cost you as food inflation remains ‘staggering’

The Easter Bunny is Impacting Your Wallet

Prepare to shell out more for your Easter basket this year as prices have soared. According to a study by CouponFollow, the average cost of a typical Easter basket has jumped to $49.66, a 34% increase from last year. The price hike is mainly attributed to the rising costs of candy and plastic eggs.

Among the items included in the Easter Basket Inflation Index, Cadbury Creme Eggs saw the largest spike, increasing by 57% to $5.49. The overall cost of a complete Easter basket has surged by 71% compared to five years ago, with Cadbury’s treats costing 120% more than in 2021.

The study tracked prices at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Albertsons in the week leading up to Easter. Clay Cary, senior trends analyst for CouponFollow, oversaw the research.

Chuck Grom, a retail analyst at Gordon Haskett, expressed concerns about the significant pressure on consumer spending due to the staggering increase in food prices in recent years. The price hikes aren’t limited to candy; other Easter basket goodies like Lindt Gold Bunnies, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs, Starburst Jellybeans, and Peeps have also become more expensive.

The increase in petroleum costs has pushed the price of plastic eggs up by 52% compared to last year. Candy prices have been affected by the soaring cost of sugar, which has risen by 50% over the past five years.

Aside from candy, Easter-related groceries like ham, eggs, butter, milk, flour, sugar, and Easter lilies have contributed to a 23.1% increase in the cost of Easter brunch over the past five years, now totaling $37.36.

Additionally, chocolate Easter eggs have become pricier and smaller due to challenges in sourcing cocoa, particularly from West Africa where crops have been impacted by adverse weather conditions. Despite recent improvements, consumers can expect to pay more for their Easter celebrations this year.