Spirit of Christmas Past raises tree costs
This year, buying a Christmas tree might leave your pocketbook, well, Scrooged.
That’s because a national tree shortage has caused an increase in prices on firs, spruces and pines in some areas of the country, according to the Miami Herald.
The shortage mostly stems from the Great Recession in 2008 when holiday shoppers weren’t feeling particularly festive during the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Growers responded by planting fewer trees to sell. Replenishment takes time – some trees need up to 10 years to mature before they’re ready for that corner in your family room.
Wildfires and hurricanes contributed to the decrease in supply, the Miami Herald reported.
To make matters worse, the number of Christmas tree farmers has been on a steady decline for several years.
Oregon, the nation’s top producer of Christmas trees, had 699 licensed growers in 2010. As of last year, that number dropped to 392, according to ABC News.
“We were thinking about getting a 6-footer,” said Mike Pruitt, 32, a construction worker from Harlem, New York. “But now that we see the cost, my partner and I will probably get a smaller tree. Maybe we’ll even just get one of those plastic fake ones from a dollar store.”
Pruitt had a look at live trees during his lunch break in Midtown Manhattan. “I planned on surprising my family with a tree today, but I can’t justify spending over $100 on a stick with some pine needles on it,” Pruitt said.
How can you save money? Shop later. The average price of a Christmas tree in the USA drops to its lowest point at $47 on Christmas Eve, according to a report by Square and the National Christmas Tree Association.