If picking out a fresh Christmas tree is part of your annual festivities, make sure you pad your pocket with a bit of extra cash this season.
The U.S. is facing a holiday tree shortage this year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), which may run up prices for shoppers.
The shortage can be blamed on the Great Recession the country faced, which began a decade ago. The economic downturn forced some farmers to limit their crops to save money during this time of decreased demand for discretionary items like trees. Christmas trees can take around 10 years to reach full size, so we’re only now seeing the impact the economic downturn had on the industry.
“In those years, we were in a recession and tree sales were down, prices were down, and we weren’t planting as many trees,” Doug Hundley of the NCTA told News 12, Long Island.
Because there are fewer trees, prices may be higher when you go to checkout. Hundley said prices could increase 10-15% in some areas of the country. Higher gas prices this year could also mean higher tree prices, since they’re pricier to transport across the country.
The National Christmas Tree Association advises consumers to purchase their trees early to ensure they get the exact tree variety and size they would like.
“We believe everyone who wants to have a real tree will find one,” Hundley told USA Today. “They may not have the size they want or they might have to buy a different kind (because) we have a tight market.”
If you’re trying to offset the increased cost, consider waiting a few weeks. Most lots reduce prices as Christmas draws closer in attempt to clear their product before the season ends.
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