Valentine Chocolates ¥25 Dearer as Imports Push Up Prices

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:05 JST, February 13, 2023

The average retail price for a piece of chocolate for Valentine’s Day this year is ¥390 including tax, up by 7%, or ¥25, from the previous year, according to Teikoku Databank.

Soaring costs for ingredients, such as cacao beans, sugar and milk, are driving the hike, with some brands raising prices by about ¥100.

Teikoku Databank surveyed the prices of 135 brands sold in department stores, shopping malls and confectionery shops. Of these, about 60%, or 80 brands, raised their prices.

The price per piece was found to be ¥355 for domestic brands, ¥18 higher than the previous year, compared to ¥433 for imported brands from France, Belgium and other countries, which were up by ¥33. Imported chocolate prices were apparently affected by the weak yen.