受氣候變化影響，全球可可豆產量銳減，進而推高可可豆價格，再加上通脹導致的能源、運輸等成本不斷上漲，美國多個品牌的巧克力自去年起就開始漲價。據美國零售聯合會預計，今年美國人在復活節巧克力兔上的花費將大幅減少。

Credit first-generation German-American Robert Lincoln Strohecker, known in confectioner’s lore as the "Father of the Chocolate Easter Bunny."

第一代德裔美國人羅伯特·林肯·施特羅埃克爾是糖果界的傳奇人物，被譽為“復活節巧克力兔之父”。

The source of Strohecker’s legend was a massive 5-foot-tall (or perhaps even taller) solid chocolate rabbit he displayed outside Pennsylvania retailers in 1890 to popularize smaller versions of his new Easter sweets born of German tradition.

1890年，為了推廣這一德國復活節傳統甜食，他曾在美國賓夕法尼亞州零售店門外豎起了一只至少5英尺高（約合1.5米）的實心巧克力兔。這只巨大的巧克力兔開啟了施特羅埃克爾在糖果界的傳奇生涯。

Strohecker's chocolate Easter bunny sales gimmick was an instant sensation. Americans purchase about 90 million Easter bunnies each year, according to WalletHub.

施特羅埃克爾作為銷售噱頭的巨型復活節巧克力兔在當時立刻引起了轟動。美國個人理財和信用評分網站WalletHub稱，美國人每年購買的復活節巧克力兔多達9000萬只。

The chocolate Easter bunny business he inspired, however, is being crippled by inflation here in 2024.

被施特羅埃克爾帶火的復活節巧克力兔生意到了2024年卻因為通貨膨脹而損失慘重。

Cocoa futures have doubled just since the start of 2024, according to industry data, after soaring 60% in 2023.

行業數據顯示，可可豆期貨在2023年大漲60%，自2024年初以來已經翻了一倍。

Rising costs, including on energy and transportation, are being met by lower supplies.

一方面，能源和運輸等成本不斷上漲，另一方面，原料供應又減少了。

The International Cocoa Organization reported last month that cocoa production is down 11% this year, citing poor weather conditions in West Africa, which produces two-thirds of the world's crop.

國際可可組織上月報告稱，由于西非天氣條件不佳，可可豆今年的產量下降了11%。全球三分之二可可豆都產自西非。

Many farmers blame climate change for their poor crops. Cacao trees only grow close to the equator and are especially sensitive to changes in weather.

許多西非農民將可可豆產量下降歸咎于氣候變化。可可樹只能種植在赤道附近，對天氣變化極為敏感。

Sugar prices are also rising. Futures for a pound of sugar are up about 8% in 2024, after rising 2.7% in 2023.

糖的價格也在上漲。2024年以來1磅糖的期貨價格上漲約8%，2023年上漲2.7%。

Big chocolate companies like Hershey's and Cadbury maker Mondelez have been passing those costs on to consumers — and then some: Hershey's net profit margins ticked higher to 16.7% in 2023 from 15.8% in 2022. Mondelez reported a jump to 13.8% in 2023 from 8.6% in 2022.

巧克力巨頭好時和生產吉百利糖果的億滋公司正在將成本轉嫁到消費者身上。好時的凈利潤率從2022年的15.8%提高到2023年的16.7%。億滋報告稱凈利潤率從2022年的8.6%提高到2023年的13.8%。

Hershey raised prices on chocolate overall last year as inflation surged and said it increased prices on some grocery items early in 2024.

好時公司的巧克力產品去年全面漲價，理由是通脹率飆升，并表示在2024年初已進一步上調部分食品價格。

Both companies reported shrinking sales volumes for their most recent quarters as consumers grow tired of paying higher food prices.

兩家公司在剛剛過去的幾個季度都宣布銷售額下滑，因為消費者受不了價格上漲。

Chocolate giant Hershey witnessed a 6.6% decline in sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2023 and announced job cuts in February.

巧克力巨頭好時公司2023年四季度的銷量下降6.6%，并在今年2月份宣布裁員。

Here in the United States, the National Retail Federation expects spending on chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies to drop from $3.3 billion in 2023 to $3.1 billion in 2024 — a potential 6% decrease. Its latest survey shows that consumers are expected to spend $3.1 billion on candy for Easter this year, or $24.78 per person. That's down from $3.3 billion, or $26.31 per person a year ago.

美國零售聯合會預計，美國人在復活節巧克力蛋和巧克力兔上的花費將從2023年的33億美元降至2024年的31億美元，降幅可能會達到6%。美國零售聯合會的最新調查顯示，美國消費者2024年預計在復活節巧克力上的人均花費為24.78美元，而去年同期的人均花費為26.31美元。

"Whatever is going on in the world, people don't give up shopping for chocolate," said Maegan Dec, president of Hilliard's Chocolates, a 100-year-old, family-owned business in Easton, Massachusetts.

美國麻省伊斯頓市百年家族企業希利亞德巧克力的董事長梅根·德克表示：“無論世界上發生什么，人們都不會放棄購買巧克力。”

She said business this year remains unaffected, citing loyal customers seeking artisan chocolates. But the prospect of long-term rising costs and dwindling supplies is "scary."

她說，希利亞德巧克力公司今年的生意沒有受影響，還有忠實的客戶訂購手工巧克力。但是長期成本上漲和原料供應減少的前景“很可怕”。

英文來源：福克斯新聞網、哥倫比亞廣播公司新聞網、《財富》雜志官網

翻譯&編輯：丹妮

審核：董靜、齊磊