Chocolate prices soar 21% in Germany as Christmas approaches

Germans are having to pay more for chocolate, cookies, and other traditional treats in the run-up to Christmas.

The Federal Statistical Office reported on Wednesday that chocolate prices were up by an average of 21% in October 2025 compared to the previous year.

Prices for chocolate bars and other chocolate products climbed by 16% within a year. In October, pralines cost 22.1% more than a year earlier. In contrast, the prices for biscuits rose comparatively moderately, by just 1.7%.

By way of comparison, consumer prices in Germany rose by 2.3% overall during the same period, while food prices rose by 1.3%.

However, some products made without chocolate were actually cheaper in October 2025 than they had been a year earlier.

For example, gummy bears, chewing gum and similar products were 2.8% cheaper than in 2024.

It is also cheaper to choose healthier options, with apples only 0.2% more expensive than a year earlier.

One reason why chocolate treats have become more expensive is the increasing prices for important ingredients such as cocoa and sugar.

The price of cocoa, for example, rose to a record high in 2024.

Manufacturers are passing this on to their customers, and also point to the high costs of labour, energy and transport in Germany.