It's estimated prices have jumped 72 percent within the past six moths.

Don Ruggery, who owns McIntyre's Candies in Altoona, told WJAC's Abbie Tang he uses four types of sugars.

He said he saw an increase in chocolate in 2008 and an overall increase in all materials.

He said he hasn't decided if he'll raise prices, but added it seems customers buy more candy when times are tough.

"I can't explain it," Ruggery said. "Prices are going up in just about every realm of activity. We live with that, and if it goes up too much more we'll just raise our prices a little and it will be up to the buyers."

Experts blame rising costs in sugar-producing regions in India, the use of Brazilian sugar cane for ethanol production and a growing global sweet tooth. And they say costs may continue to soar as wholesalers are predicting the price of sugar may rise another 25 to 30 percent.