Easter Sees Sharp Price Hikes: Some Products Rise Over 60%, Impacting Consumption

Prices of traditional Easter products rose sharply in the run-up to Holy Week 2024. The increases hit households already facing declining purchasing power and weak sales.

Major price movements detected

A Focus Market survey recorded the strongest jumps. The consultancy identified steep rises across bakery, chocolate and seafood items.

Roscás and bakery items

• The 500-gram rosca climbed 63% year-on-year. It moved from $8,000 to $13,000.
• Other rosca sizes also showed increases above 50%.
• Analysts said input costs, not demand, drove the rises.

Easter eggs and chocolate

• Some egg varieties increased as much as 49% year-on-year.
• Other types rose in the 27%–45% range.
• Filled eggs reported a 36% interannual increase.
• Focus Market’s director, Damián Di Pace, linked part of the rise to cocoa prices.
• International cocoa hit record levels in 2024. Climatic problems and lower West African output were factors.

Seafood price shifts

• Squid led seafood increases with a 59% rise per kilo.
• Hake fillet rose 27%.
• Milanesas de pescado and kanikama showed smaller increases.
• The squid jump reflected strong international demand. That pushed local prices despite good catches.

Underlying causes and market impact

Key production inputs grew costlier. Flour, eggs, sugar, cream and chocolate all rose in price.

Operating expenses also climbed. Higher wages, energy bills and logistics costs affected final prices.

Consumption has not bounced back. The combination of rising costs and weak demand forced retailers to raise prices to protect margins.

What this means for shoppers

Easter-related purchases now face sharp price hikes. Some items climbed over 60%, impacting consumption across income levels.

Households may reduce spending on higher-priced items. Retailers and producers must balance margins and sales volumes.

Reporting for Filmogaz.com, this analysis draws on the Focus Market survey and comments by director Damián Di Pace.