Easter Spending Hits Record on Rising Food and Candy Costs

Strong Easter demand supports protein and crop markets.

american easter Easter eggs painted in the style of the American flag_Photo by Mikhaylovskiy via AdobeStock_255969212.png

Photo by Mikhaylovskiy via AdobeStock

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — Record Easter spending highlights strong consumer demand, even as rising costs of food and candy continue to shape purchasing decisions.

The National Retail Federation projects total Easter spending at $24.9 billion, with food leading at $7.5 billion and candy close behind at $3.5 billion. About 92 percent of consumers plan to buy candy, reinforcing its role alongside traditional meals centered on ham, eggs, and side dishes.

Price pressures remain uneven across categories. Egg prices are currently near $3.50 per dozen, well below last year’s spike above $6, but still elevated compared to more typical levels near $2 just a few years ago. Seasonal demand tied to Easter is also pushing prices modestly higher.

Candy costs have climbed sharply as well. Prices for popular products have risen by roughly 67 percent since 2020, meaning consumers are getting less product for the same amount spent, even as overall demand remains strong.

The combination of steady holiday demand and higher input and retail costs continues to ripple through livestock, grain, and food markets.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Strong Easter demand supports protein and crop markets.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Related Stories
A smaller U.S. turkey flock and resurgent avian flu have tightened supplies, driving prices higher even as other key holiday foods show mixed trends.
Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.
The DOJ’s new antitrust probe could reshape beef-packer behavior, with potential impacts on fed-cattle prices, processor margins, and long-term competition across the supply chain.
Stagger buys and diversifies fertilizer sources — watch CBAM, India’s tenders, and Brazil’s import pace to time urea, phosphate, and potash purchases.
Distillers dried grains (DDG) values follow corn and soybean meal trends, with ethanol grind and feed demand shaping costs into early 2026.
Global nitrogen and phosphate prices remain high despite improved supply fundamentals, with limited Chinese exports and stronger fall applications tightening availability.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Lawmakers and experts react to the Administration’s long-awaited announcement of “bridge” aid to stabilize farms and offset 2025 losses until expanded safety-net programs begin in 2026.
Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
Record yields and exceptionally low BCFM strengthen U.S. corn’s competitive position in global markets.
Water access—not acreage alone—is driving where irrigation expands or contracts.
Credit stress is building for row-crop farms despite steady land values and slight price improvements.
The Lexington shutdown pushes national slaughter capacity utilization nearer long-run averages, underscoring how tight cattle supplies are reshaping packer operations.