Real Christmas tree prices rising

Inflation has struck again, and this time it’s jacking up tree prices for the holiday season.

According to a September report from the Real Christmas Tree Board, 2022’s Christmas tree market will look much like last year’s.

“The real Christmas tree industry met demand last year and it will meet demand this year,” Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said in the report. “This is essentially a year without surprises.

“Our annual consumer survey showed that 86% of real Christmas tree buyers said they had no problems finding a place nearby to buy their tree last year. And 87% told us they found the tree they wanted at the first place they looked. We expect this year to be no different.

“The grower survey tells us demand is healthy. Retailers see steady consumer interest in real Christmas trees and right now supply is pretty well matched to that interest.”

Ms. Gray said 67% of the wholesalers that the board talked to said they expect to sell all the trees they plan to harvest this year. And more than half — 55% — expect to sell about the same amount of real Christmas trees as last year.

While the industry group does not predict any inventory shortages, prices are expected to be higher due to increased input costs among wholesale growers.

Of the 55 wholesale growers surveyed by the Real Christmas Tree Board, which represent an estimated 66% of the country’s real Christmas tree market, over a third said they are experiencing 11% to 15% increases in costs.

Over a quarter of those surveyed said they are experiencing 16% to 20% in cost increases. Another 10% of wholesale growers said their costs have increased by even more.

“There are no plot twists in the real Christmas tree story this year,” Ms. Gray said. “Just the steady hand of professional growers bringing joy to consumers and business savvy to the marketplace.

“While our grower survey tells us wholesale prices are likely to be higher for real Christmas trees this year, our consumer survey tells us people expected as much.”