Every year, thousands of consumers set aside a little extra money so that they can grab a box (or two, or five) of Girl Scout cookies from local young vendors who might ring their doorbell or set up tables outside their local grocery store. That budget will need to get a little bigger this year though, as many of the 11 regional Girl Scout Councils (each of which sets prices for the beloved treats) have raised the per box price from $5 to $6. In recent years, a few popular cookies, like S’mores, already required the higher price point, but now, all boxes will demand the higher price. The shift reflects national and global trends, including increased production, material, and shipping costs. The last price increase, from $4 to $5, happened around 2015. But even with these reasonable explanations for higher prices, Girl Scout leaders might worry that consumers will refuse to shell out more money for cookies. Or perhaps not; when the organization introduced Raspberry Rallies, a limited-edition raspberry-flavored version of its Thin Mints last year, it sold out completely, sparking bidding wars on resale sites. For fans who cannot wait for Girl Scout cookie season, an extra dollar for a box full of happiness might not make much of a difference.

Sources: Danielle Wiener-Bronner, “Girl Scout Cookies Are Coming Back, and Prices Are Going Up,” CNN, September 28, 2023