Raw material shortages result in continuous increase of chocolate retail prices in the United States.

Due to factors such as the shortage of supply from global cocoa producing areas, the price of chocolate in the United States has continued to rise, with a year-on-year increase of over 14% since the beginning of this year. According to data from the market research company "Data Collection" in the United States, from January 1st to early February, the retail price of chocolate in the United States increased by 14.4% compared to the same period last year. In cities such as Denver and Los Angeles, the price of chocolate rose by about 17% year-on-year, while in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the increase was as high as 19%. The rising price of chocolate in the United States is mainly due to the global shortage of core raw material cocoa beans. Cocoa bean production in West Africa accounts for about 70% of the global total, but extreme weather conditions have led to poor harvests, pushing cocoa futures prices to historic highs. Although international cocoa prices have recently fallen significantly, chocolate products on the American market are still digesting the high-priced raw materials purchased earlier, and the upward trend in chocolate prices may continue in the short term.