Tariffs are making artificial Christmas trees more expensive this season, with the American Christmas Tree Association reporting a 30% tariff on trees and decor has pushed prices up about 10-15%.
鈥淩etailers have done all they can to absorb as much of the unexpected additional costs as possible,鈥� said Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association.
For shoppers such as Hannah Pine of Rockville, Maryland, who already owns an artificial tree, that鈥檚 a relief.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had one for the last few years, and it鈥檚 in good condition, so we鈥檙e happy to have that one,鈥� she said, adding that cleanup is easier with a toddler and a dog.
Luis Baez of Silver Spring, said he noticed the price jump firsthand.
鈥淚t was definitely more expensive this year,鈥� he said. “Right now, it’s like almost $800 at Costco, same one.”
At Good Earth Garden Market in Potomac, owner David Johannes said artificial trees aren鈥檛 a big part of his business anymore.
鈥淎rtificial, for us, has actually kind of gone away. It鈥檚 gone to more box stores,鈥� he said.
Johannes said his business does stock several dozen artificial trees, and said ordering early this year may have allowed the store to avoid any hikes. He added he hasn鈥檛 seen evidence of high costs pushing more people toward real trees this year.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 heard any chatter about that, but that certainly wouldn鈥檛 surprise me,鈥� he said.
Johannes said real trees remain the biggest sellers for the market, and prices for them have stayed flat for the past two years.
Despite the price hikes, the association said four out of five families celebrating with a tree still choose an artificial one, and there鈥檚 a growing trend toward decorating with multiple trees, both real and artificial.
鈥淩eal, artificial, tall, short, green, Charlie Brown 鈥� there is no such thing as a bad Christmas tree,鈥� Warner said in email to 草莓传媒.
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