Real Christmas tree prices are shooting up in some markets, and it's not because of tariffs
While tariffs could force shoppers to shell out more dollars for artificial Christmas trees, real Christmas trees in some markets are giving shoppers sticker shock, too.
A vast majority of all Christmas decorations, including artificial trees, sold in the US are manufactured in China. With higher tariff costs on imported made-in-China goods, consumers on the hunt for reusable Christmas tree likely will end up paying more for them.
“Retailers and suppliers have done all they can to absorb the new tariffs; however, prices have increased from 10% to 15%,” said Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, whose recent survey of households showed 83% were planning to decorate an artificial tree this year.
Meanwhile, a strong domestic supply of real trees this year should help shoppers find better deals on natural varieties versus the boxed versions.
Or at least, that’s the hope.
“Each year, we survey wholesale [tree] growers. They’re the large producers who ship trees to retailers for sale. This year, 84% of them said they aren’t raising their prices, and a few of them even said they’re lowering their prices,” Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board (which represents North American Christmas tree growers), told Bagable.com.
Plus, seasonal supply of trees from Canada into the US market (as an agricultural commodity)is currently exempt from tariffs, Gray said, meaning there’s less incentive for sellers to mark up prices and pass along those added costs to shoppers.
“Still, retailers that wholesellers supply trees to have their own unique set of circumstances — overhead costs, rent, labor — whatever it may be, and they have to make their own decision about the final price of that tree based on these factors,” Gray said.
At Whole Foods stores in New York City, rows of Christmas trees sourced from domestic and Canadian growers made their annual appearance this week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
But what was missing on them was a deal. The pricetag for a full-size tree at one location was $89.99, up from $69.99 last year.
The grocery chain, which is owned by Amazon AMZN 0.00%↑ and operates more than 500 stores in the U.S., confirmed the price hike to Bagable.com and said it was the first time the company has raised tree prices since 2021 in the New York City market.
The retailer said numerous factors, such as “labor and operational impact to stores” affect product prices, and added that the $90 price point was “still a very competitive price in the NYC area for the high quality of the product.”
Bagable.com reached out to other large retail chains, including Lowe’s LOW 0.00%↑ and Home Depot HD 0.00%↑ , that sell real Christmas trees. Both retailers did not immediately respond to email requests for comment.