LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Halloween is right around the corner, and chocolate shops across Lincoln are feeling the bittersweet impact of rising costs.

From global cocoa shortages to new tariffs in 2025, some small businesses in Lincoln said the price of keeping things sweet is higher than ever.

From caramels and truffles to hand-dipped chocolates, sweets from The Chocolate Season help keep Lincoln sweet every holiday.

But this year, shop owners like Erika Jensen said the cost of making magic has gone up — fast.

“Just as soon as we thought we were recovering from those huge, huge, huge increases, of course, we get the tariffs, and that’s just how the game has been played the past couple of years,” Jensen said.

Jensen said there was a nearly 200% price increase from January 2024 to January

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