Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
(Operator Instructions) Your first question comes from Vincent Andrews - Morgan Stanley.
Vincent Andrews - Morgan Stanley
Wondering, just looking a little bit forward to 2010, if you could give us some color on the breakdown of the 3% to 5% top-line growth.
David J. West
As we look ahead to 2010, as we said, we will continue to work to invest in the brand and the capabilities so that we can continue to convert consumers to the higher price points. We have a carry-over effect from the price increase that was announced in August of 2008 and so that will continue through Valentines and Easter and then we have a little bit less of an FX headwind but the category has traditionally, historically grown at 3% to 4% levels. The drivers differ by year.
We would expect it to be pretty consistent with that but the most important thing for us is we will continue to invest in conversion. So far we have been pretty much on track with our estimates in terms of how the consumer is going to react. So as we look to next year we will get a little bit of carry-over pricing in the seasonal period.
We will read the effect the consumer has in Halloween and holiday and continue to roll forward with any adjustments that are necessary there, but next year is really about continuing to invest in brands and capabilities.
Vincent Andrews - Morgan Stanley
It looks like dairy turns inflationary for you in January. One, is that correct? And two, do you feel like you will need to take any pricing to deal with that our will you be able to use internal cost productivity to offset that?
Humberto P. Alfonso
We are not going to address pricing per se. What I would say, consistent with my comments earlier, is that you are right about—in the fourth quarter of this year we will start to have a more comparable dairy cost. And so we expect less of a positive impact on the fourth quarter. As we get into next year we will see how dairy prices act in the marketplace. But they will be more similar to the previous year.
Operator
Your next question comes from Alexia Howard – Sanford C. Bernstein.
Alexia Howard – Sanford C. Bernstein
Just building on Vincent's question on the commodities side, we've obviously just seen cocoa prices hit historic highs in the December futures. I know you have hedged out quite a way on cocoa, but what does the commodity cost outlook look like for next year, given the recent increases in cocoa and sugar prices?
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