pascua is getting more expensive just as households prepare for Semana Santa, with traditional items posting steep increases that are pressuring spending. A Focus Market survey found that some products linked to the season rose by more than 60% year over year, while demand remains weak. The price increases are landing in a context of falling purchasing power and delayed buying decisions.
Roscas and chocolates lead the sharpest increases
The biggest jump was seen in roscas. The 500-gram version rose 63% in one year, moving from $8, 000 to $13, 000, while other presentations also climbed more than 50%.
Eggs of Pascua also posted strong gains. Some varieties increased by up to 49%, while others moved between 27% and 45%. More elaborate products, such as filled eggs, rose 36% year over year.
Focus Market said these increases are not being driven by stronger demand. Instead, the pressure comes from higher input costs, including flour, eggs, sugar, cream, and chocolate, as well as operating costs such as wages, energy, and logistics.
Why the seasonal basket keeps climbing
Damián Di Pace, director of Focus Market, said one major factor behind the rise in eggs of Pascua was the earlier jump in international cocoa prices, which reached record levels during 2024 because of climate problems and lower production in West Africa.
Fish, another key part of the seasonal table, also showed major increases. The kilo of squid led the rise with 59%, followed by hake fillet at 27%. Fish milanesas and kanikama also went up, though by less.
In the case of squid, the report said the increase is mainly tied to strong international demand, which pushes local prices even when catches have had a good season.
Consumers are buying later and choosing less
The latest price pressure is changing how families shop. The mix of higher costs and weak consumption is pushing many stores to adjust prices simply to protect margins, while buyers wait longer before deciding what to spend.
That means pascua is arriving with more selective purchases, smaller portions, and in many cases, fewer items on the table. The seasonal basket is no longer only a question of tradition; it is also a test of how far household budgets can stretch.
For now, pascua is being shaped by cost inflation, external pressure on some foods, and a consumer market that has not yet recovered. What happens next will depend on whether prices stabilize before the holiday, and whether shoppers keep trimming their baskets even as pascua moves closer.
