Input Stories

Pandemic-driven scarcity of Christmas trees, both artificial and real, coupled with obstinate inflation, could make for a pricier holiday season, according to AP News.
 
Climate and supply chains: Growers are faced with extreme weather conditions, including drought, floods and fires. Oregon and Washington, two of the nation’s largest sources of trees, faced record-breaking heat and wildfires—and because trees take up to 10 years to mature, crop losses may be felt for years to come.
 
A season of shortages: Faced with shortages, Christmas tree retailers are struggling to meet demand. In turn, due to weather-induced losses, many suppliers are not able to fulfill retailers’ orders. Businesses are struggling to get enough trees to sell on their lots, and some have raised their prices due to the scarcity of trees and the rising cost of labor and delivery.
 
The artificial standby? The artificial tree industry is also struggling because of clogged ports and a dearth of truckers, delaying shipments and hiking up costs. Many businesses source their trees from factories in China and have fewer trees to sell due to reduced cargos.