Chocolate prices in Kazakhstan surged to a record consumer price index of 130.3% in the first half of 2026, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. That means chocolate cost nearly a third more than in the same period last year, reports infohub.kz.
Long-term trends show that price increases have outpaced overall food inflation in recent years. In 2020 and 2021, the rise was modest at 8.3–8.5%, but from 2022 the consumer price index jumped sharply to 117.1% and remained elevated in subsequent years.
"This indicates a sustained upward price trend in the chocolate market that can no longer be attributed to one-off fluctuations. The picture was especially clear last year: the CPI from January to December stood at 129.9%, signaling ongoing price pressure," the study noted.
Monthly data over the past year revealed several noticeable spikes. In August 2025, chocolate prices rose 3.8% month-on-month, followed by a 4.8% increase in September. The next peak came in February 2026, with a 3.3% monthly rise. In June, the index showed no sharp changes.