🥚 Easter 2025 Got A Lot More Eggs-pensive

In today’s newsletter I talk about how Easter 2025 has gotten a lot more eggs-pensive, Weddings are getting more expensive thanks to inflation, the new movie “Sinners” made $61 million dollars at the worldwide box office this weekend, SpinLaunch is building a 280 satellite constellation that they’ll shoot into space using centrifugal force, more Americans are opening Swiss bank accounts, and chess is becoming an Esport in Saudi Arabia.

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WHAT WE’RE READING

🥚 Easter 2025 Got A Lot More Eggs-pensive

Easter used to be a joyful time of year spent by many families going to church, celebrating with extended family, and for those with young children coloring Easter eggs and going on Easter egg hunts.

Then 2025 came around.

The quintessential joys of Easter have all been replaced by worries of inflation and job security, with parents trying to keep a smile on their face while they sneaking peaks at their declining 401Ks. And they’re right to be nervous.

Looking back at March 2025, the average price for a dozen large Grade A eggs reached a high of $6.23. While some consumers have been skipping eggs altogether, the cost of an Easter meal has also risen significantly. Americans were expected to spend a record $23.6 billion dollars on Easter in 2025, with food costs being a major factor. The cost of cocoa beans has also hit record highs, impacting the price of Easter candy.

Seriously! Even chocolate is getting more expensive? Is there nothing safe from inflation in 2025?!?!

Cocoa prices surged almost 300% last year, making chocolate bunnies and other Easter treats significantly more expensive this year. Some chocolate makers have already increased their prices, and experts predict further increases are likely.

Now some families are drastically reducing the number of real eggs they use in celebrating Easter this year, instead turning to plastic eggs. And instead of putting chocolates in those plastic eggs some families are replacing them with small toys (probably from China, so look for those to go up in price this time next year).

So this year as families gathered to celebrate Easter with a slightly lighter basket and heavier grocery bill, we can only hope the Easter Bunny starts accepting cryptocurrency before next year.

💍 Business

Like everything else in life these days, weddings are getting a lot more expensive. All those happy couples planning their nuptials this year are facing the reality of increasingly expensive weddings, with the average cost now hovering around $36,000. 

The surging price of getting married can be attributed to a mix of factors, including inflation impacting everything from venue rentals and catering to flowers and photography, with some couples in pricier states like New Jersey and New York potentially shelling out between $50,000-$65,000 dollars to throw their weddings. 

With all the uncertainty in the markets, some smart couples are deciding to downsize their wedding dreams instead of diving deeper into debt for a single day of matrimonial bliss. Just don’t skimp on the open bar.

🎬 Entertainment

The new vampire thriller 'Sinners', by Ryan Coogler, debuted at the top of the weekend box office earning $45.6 million dollars domestically, and $15.4 million dollars internationally, for a global box office opening weekend of $61 million dollars.

The movie cost a reported $90 million dollars to make, plus throw in another $60 million dollars for marketing the film, and you’re looking at the movie needing to earn north of $185 million dollars worldwide to be successful.

I guess you could say movie goers didn’t think the movie sucked.  (get it - it’s a vampire movie. SMH)

🛰️ Space

SpinLaunch, the U.S. company that is developing a giant spinning cannon to shoot satilies into orbit, has a new plan to create a cheaper and more sustainable launch method compared to traditional rockets. The company just raised an additional $12 million dollars in funding Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace, bringing their total fund raise to nearly $150 million dollars.

SpinLaunch has developed a new pancake-like microsatellite that it intends to fling 280 satellites into low Earth orbit as a part of their Meridian Space constellation to compete with the likes of ELon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink, and provide high-speed internet services to enterprise customers globally.

SpinLaunch estimates its launch costs could be between $1,250 and $2,500 per kilogram, substantially less than SpaceX's Falcon 9, which costs around $6,000 per kilogram. Their entire satellite network is expected to cost SpinLaunch approximately $132.8 million dollars.

🇨🇭 Finance

With all the growing anxieties about potential U.S. economic instability, tariffs and policy shifts, an increasing number of wealthy Americans are seeking safety for their financial assets in Swiss bank accounts.

Long gone are the days of numbered Swiss bank accounts that concealed an owner’s identity, but that’s now what Americans are looking for right now. What they are after is a safe haven for their money

Switzerland's long-standing reputation for neutrality, a stable economy, and a strong currency are a key reason that high net worth individuals are looking to diversify their holdings, move some money offshore, buy physical assets like gold, or even perhaps a second citizenship in Europe as a "Plan B."

It's good to know that as the U.S. burns high net worth individuals are preparing their escape hatches.

♟️ Sports

Chess, of all sports, is making a move into the Esports arena, with its inclusion in the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this year. Players will be vying for a share of the $1.5 million dollars in prize money.

Famous faces from the world of competitive chess, including the controversial Magnus Carlsen, have joined top teams like Team Liquid to bring in new audiences and sponsorship money.

It seems like chess, which has been played for centuries, is now trying to checkmate the esports world one tournament at a time.

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irl Media NEWSLETTER is written, edited, and published by Chris Thompson.