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This Easter is going to be an exceptional one, and not for any of the reasons you might think. At the heart of most Easter celebrations there is candy. Candy in baskets and candy in boxes too big for baskets are purchased by consumers every Easter, but this year is going to be a little different.
This year is one of the first years following major pandemic events wherein literally everything costs more. New Easter clothes will cost more, new dress shoes will cost more, food for the Easter dinner will cost more, and yes, Easter candy will cost more. In fact, the Easter Bunny himself may be in trouble because candy will cost so much the “holiday rabbit” may not be able to buy the usual quantity.
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As a parent, you love spoiling the kids on a special holiday, but you might have to tell them this year that the Easter Bunny is broke, out of magic, or unable to make candy for all the kids in the world. Whatever excuse you can find may have to be one to use simply because inflation has dominated consumerism in every avenue possible. No matter how you look at it, candy is going to be costly.
Supply Shortages
Last year and this year supply shortages made it difficult to get enough treats on special holidays. Some stores were sold out of the most popular candies during holidays like Easter and Christmas and additional inventory was just not coming in or available. Ships stuck in ports because dock crews were out sick with Covid meant that truckers couldn’t take shipments to stores. Truckers that were sick with Covid could transport shipments even if and when the dock crews could unload the ships.
In short, the supply shortages were a big enough problem alone. Enter inflation, and the problem is much worse. For those that have never taken an economics course, supply and demand always impact inflation. Short supply plus high demand raises prices on goods consumers want.
Elevated Production Costs
Then there’s the issue of manufacturing candy. Without all of the ingredients candy companies needed to produce candy, production costs rose. These companies had to pay more to find the supplies they needed in order to make candy. They are still paying more for their supplies because candymaking supplies are shorted like everything else.
Another side of the production coin is the fact that employees for a long time were lacking as well. With the pandemic raging in waves, there simply wasn’t enough people to make candy. To get enough employees, candy companies had to raise wages or offer huge return to work bonuses. These costs are passed on to consumers as higher prices on candy.
No, You Can’t Get Homemade Candy Cheaper
Store-bought bagged candies by major candy companies are high priced now, which drives you and many other consumers to look at buying freshly made candy. Candy created in local candy shops sounds divine, especially when you consider that there are no preservatives, and the taste can’t compare to store-bought bagged or packaged candy. However, the local candy and chocolatier shops can’t help you save money on Easter this year either.
The reason why local candy shops can’t offer better prices on Easter candy is because they are in the same inflation boat with everyone else. They need lots of fresh ingredients to produce candy daily. If they can’t get shipments of supplies in for everything from cocoa powder to sugar or corn syrup, they can’t make candy. The prices on their candy go up because they have to turn a profit in order to stay open through this period of high inflation and supply shortages.
A locally run candy shop would welcome your business because they can’t survive without it right now. However, you will likely find that prices are rather high for fresh chocolates, gummy candies, jellybeans, and other holiday favorites. The supply chain makes it incredibly difficult for these shops to keep costs low, and the fact that they simply do not have the production lines major candy companies have to produce candy adds to the cost.
Best Possible Outcome for Easter
If the “Easter Bunny” is going to bring enough treats to your children this year, shop sales early and buy candy in bulk when you can. Watch for sales in the local stores and visit a couple times in the same week if the candy you want is not available on the first trip to the store. You can also opt for less treats by offering the kids an alternative to all that candy or offering a large chocolate bunny only in place of a basket.
Writing notes from the Easter Bunny’s perspective to help diminish disappointment for the really young children might help too. After all, what kindergartner or preschooler could not be excited by a personal note from the Easter Bunny himself? Get creative this year, as inflation won’t stick around forever, and the shortages will ease up eventually.
