Christmas tree prices remain high for the third straight year, with today's shopper paying about twice what was charged in 2014.

While prices vary by location, the average is currently around $76 nationwide. Fewer trees were planted during the recession of 2008, and since it takes about a decade for the trees to mature, the shortfall is being felt now.

To further exacerbate the problem, the strong economy of the last few years has meant that demand for real trees increased by 20% last year, with high demand expected this year as well. Savvy shoppers may note that the highest prices for trees tend to appear on Cyber Monday, and prices sometimes drop as Christmas draws nearer.

1. What makes forecasting demand for trees difficult for Christmas tree farmers?

2. How do location-related factors affect the pricing and competitiveness of trees?

3. What other Christmas / Holiday related items do you think will be affected by pricing, especially during our current pandemic?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

1 Forecasting demand for Christmas trees is difficult for Christmas tree farmers due to several factors a Economic conditions Fluctuations in the economy can impact consumer spending habits and overal... View the full answer