Ringing out the new season with doorbells, coins and bike bells, the Girl Scouts of America carry their wagons of boxed gold to houses and stores around. The troops span the country selling the precious cookies to the mass, but with recent demand, cookie inflation is on the rise.

The cunning saleswomen named “Katie” sets foot offering her unbeatable product of cookies with a price of $3.50. Moments later, another salesman now offers a box that is $5.00.

“With the price hike, the Girl Scouts of Northern California becomes the first council within the mainland U.S.A. to reach $5 per box, with most other regions asking supporters for either $4 or $3.50,” said council chief executive Marina Park, according to CBS news.

The sugary prices rise higher than local gas prices; the Scouts are now seizing the opportunity to increase fundraising profit. But where is this delicious-revenue going?

“On average, Girl Scout council net revenue is approximately 65–75 percent of the local retail price,” according to the Girl Scout Organization. “The amount that is shared with participating Girl Scout troops and groups, referred to as troop proceeds, is approximately 10–20 percent of the local retail price.”

This new price tag for a single box of cookies only raises the troop’s funds by a crumb of a margin. When the price of a box is increased, profits rise by a few cents, but now the pocket change is adding up.

“Revenue from the sales of Girl Scout cookies has been around $700 million since 1999, based on sales of 200 million boxes at $3.50 per box,” according to NBC News.

With people buying into the cookie triathlon–Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs–it has created anywhere from 300 million dollars worth of revenue a year.

“Each of the 112 Girl Scout councils sets its own price, based on its needs and its knowledge of the local market,” according to the Girl Scout Organization. “Today’s prices reflect both the current cost of cookies and the realities of providing Girl Scout activities in an ever-changing economic environment.”

These wallet-aching prices may not be from the corporation at all. The Girl Scouts of America might recommend a selling point, but the district has the power to inflate or deflate with choice.

“The Northern California chapter, which sold more than 4.4 million boxes last year, is the only chapter in the country to raise prices,” according to SFGate.

But this hike might not give the predicted outcome. Cookies are very enticing but are not necessary to the public. The consumers can just live simply without them. Afterall, Oreos are sold year round for $3.00.

“When prices went up in 2009, officials saw an 8 percent dip in sales, and they’ve budgeted for a 15 percent drop off this year,” according to SFGate.

With membership in decline in areas and the safety of the young girls on top priority, the brainstorming new ideas to make purchasing the product easier. According to the Girl Scouts of America, an app called the Cookie Finder has been released, and they are considering hitting the online shelves soon.

“Girl Scouts of the USA realizes that Girl Scouts and their loyal cookie customers would like to have the option of selling and buying cookies online,” according to the Girl Scout Organization. “And we hope to expand online and mobile offerings to more girls and consumers in future cookie seasons.”

Their agenda is coming out, and the price hike is becoming more obvious, but this classic sisterhood of young girls will continue to teach the importance of responsibility and leadership within the community.

“Our focus is on building girls’ leadership, not a political agenda,” according to the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. “Girl Scouts is a non-profit organization with a century-long history of providing girls with the skills they need to become our next generation of leaders.”