Tariffs are expected to raise the price of Christmas trees and other decorations this holiday season.
Since these products are not typically mass produced in the U.S., the cost of an artificial tree is estimated to be 10% to 20% higher than last year, with lights costing as much as 63% more than in 2024, according to NBC News.
Ornaments from China — but not some other countries — will also cost more, according to a NASDAQ report.
Mac Harman, the founder and CEO of artificial tree vendor Balsam Hill, told the outlet that about 90% of Christmas decor products are manufactured in China.
The higher prices will also affect supply as sellers are opting to import fewer products to offset the rising costs.
“There’s no question that it will be harder to find the exact tree and decor that that you want this year, and it’ll be more expensive,” Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association, told Axios.
The live tree market, where most trees are grown and sold in the U.S., is not expected to see similar price hikes or any drop in supply since the trees take about a decade before they’re ready to cut down and sell. However, the Hartford Courant reported that climate change is leading growers to plant more trees to yield the same number of trees as years past, leading to prices to go up for fresh-cut trees.
Jesse Steadman, co-owner of Maple Hollow Tree Farm in New Hartford, told the paper he expects to have a couple thousand trees to sell this year. However, each tree is expected to cost at least $5 more to cover the cost of things like seed, fertilizer and other supplies.
The tariffs are expected to raise overall shopping prices. A Lending Tree report estimates tariffs will be adding $40.6 billion to holiday spending, equating to an extra $132 per shopper. Despite that, holiday spending in the U.S. is expected to top $1 trillion for the first time this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
