Christmas Tree Prices Remain High Due To Ongoing Shortage

SEATTLE, WA — Ongoing supply shortages mixed with increasing demand are likely to keep Christmas tree prices on the higher end in the Pacific Northwest. The Associated Press reports Oregon, one of America's top suppliers of Christmas trees, has 400 fewer growers in the state compared to 15 years ago. Trees grown in Oregon are shipped throughout the west coast.

KING 5 reports a similar issue is affecting growers in Washington State after several summers with below-average rain interfered with the growth of new trees. According to CNBC, the 2008 financial crisis also put many farms out of business, and the ramifications are still felt today. A Christmas tree can take up to a decade to fully grow.

According to the AP, Americans paid an average of $78 for real Christmas trees last year — about $3 more than the year before. A survey conducted by the National Christmas Tree Association found almost 33 million Christmas trees were purchased in 2018, an increase of 20 percent. According to the survey, most consumers bought trees at farms or retail chains like Walmart and Home Depot.