Chocolate lovers are in for a big shock this Valentine’s Day because the price of chocolate has gone up 14.4% from January 1 to early February 2026. According to market intelligence company Datasembly, which tracked over 4,000 chocolate products in 57,000 U.S. stores, this is a big jump from the 7.8% rise last year and the 10.5% rise in 2024. The rise is because cocoa prices were at an all-time high before, and it will take 6 to 12 months for retail prices to drop below $4,000 per metric ton.
Chocolate prices have gone up the most in some U.S. cities. In Denver and Los Angeles, prices have gone up 17%, and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, prices have gone up 19%. Even though raw cocoa prices are expected to drop to $7.64/kg in February 2026 (down 30.9% from the previous year), retail prices are still high because manufacturers are running out of cocoa they bought at the highest prices in 2024 and 2025.
Experts say that “slow and uneven” relief is on the way. Prices should stabilize by Easter and fall by Halloween as cheaper cocoa comes in. Even though sales may go up because of seasonal demand, the cocoa market is still under pressure because of climate risks and supply problems.
