Trees are less expensive and high! This year's Christmas tree is 10 to 30 percent more expensive than ever

Christmas is coming, but it is not easy to add Christmas trees to the shopping list - consumers will face the problem of low trees and high prices.

A shopper in southeastErn Denver passes by a grocery store on Nov. 16 with Christmas trees for sale displayed outside the store. (Image source: Associated Press)

The Associated Press reported on November 21 that the reasons for this trend include oversold sales on the first Christmas of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 and the supply chain shortage crisis that has lasted until this year.

Experts point out that people who buy Christmas trees this year, whether real or artificial, will have to pay 10% to 30% more, and there will be fewer types of Christmas trees to choose from.

"Christmas tree prices have risen sharply." John Mohlenhoff, captain of the Huntton Fire Department's Cloud Ladder Fire Brigade, said: "We had to compromise on all aspects of the type, size and size of the trees. ”

In 2020, Huntington Fire Department's Christmas trees will sell out within 48 hours, while Christmas trees usually sell out within a week, Molenhoff said. This year, the price of Christmas trees has also risen by about $5, the first price increase in 10 years. The department had to pay higher prices to Pennsylvania farms that supply Christmas trees.

Ed Dart, owner of Darts Christmas Tree Farm in Southold, Governor Island, New York, said the farm's adult Christmas trees sold out for the first time in nearly 50 years in nearly 50 years in 2020, and the farm also sold many underage trees, making the number of large trees this year even smaller.

Experts point out that several factors have contributed to the shortage of Christmas trees. After the 2009 recession, farmers planted fewer and fewer trees over the years, but consumer demand for Christmas trees has continued to rise over the past few years. In general, a tree takes 8 to 10 years to reach adulthood.

On the other hand, the shipment of artificial trees has also been delayed this year due to supply chain issues such as a shortage of transport truck drivers.

Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, which represents Christmas tree retailers, said: "Some large retailers say they currently have about 43 percent of their Christmas tree inventory, compared to nearly 70 percent at this time in previous years. ”

Ace Hardware, which has 22 branches on Long Island that sells artificial Christmas trees, said product manager Andy Pergament said the company had raised the price of artificial trees by 25 percent. He said the chain usually shelves Christmas items by the end of October, but for now they are still waiting for some artificial trees shipped from China, which are expected to arrive next week. (End)