American Christmas Tree Association Predicts Strong Consumer Demand, Steady Supply, but Fewer Options for Christmas Trees This Season
September 7, 2022 – In anticipation of the upcoming Christmas season, the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) has released its annual industry overview on the Christmas tree market and supply.
“In 2022, we expect to see robust consumer demand for artificial and live Christmas trees,” said Jami Warner, Executive Director of ACTA. “While there may be enough trees for everyone who wants one, the options may be more limited. Our 2022 recommendation to consumers is straightforward: if you want a specific type, style, or size of tree, artificial or live, find it early.”
2022 Christmas Tree Supply and Tree Choices
This year, to pre-empt the supply chain disruption that impacted the availability of trees at retailers across the country in 2021, Christmas tree retailers are bringing product earlier than in previous years, and will likely set up their stores for Christmas earlier than ever before.
“Luckily for some larger retailers, the 2021 holiday orders that were stuck in shipping ports have since reached their stores, and artificial Christmas trees and décor are ready to hit the shelves as soon as possible,” said Warner.
At the same time, reports show that approximately half of small retailers are cutting back on orders for the 2022 holiday quarter. Small business owners call out, among other factors, inflation, supply chain disruptions, fears of recession and losses from previous pandemic-affected years as reasons behind their reduced ordering. While there will be availability of supply across retailers, this could result in shoppers having fewer options when shopping for their artificial trees and holiday goods this year.
2022 Christmas Season Challenges
Additionally, weather events and drought will have an impact on live Christmas tree crop yields this season. Drought is a main driver of the loss of young Christmas trees on farms in certain regions throughout the country, with growers facing tough challenges with irrigation, elevated temperatures, and generally dry weather. Christmas tree shoppers may find fewer trees on farms or tree lots due to drought and wildfires from previous years, combined with the drought conditions this year. Given the cost of fuel for irrigation pumps and other inflation issues, some growers say customers could see more expensive trees this season.
2022 Consumer Demand Predictions
The 2021 Christmas season faced a number of challenges, including unprecedented weather events, COVID-19 and resulting supply chain congestion. Despite these challenges, 75% of U.S. households, or 94 million homes, displayed a Christmas tree during the 2021 season. Additionally, nearly 6.5 million households displayed both a live and artificial tree in 2021 – a strong sign that consumer demand for all types of Christmas trees remains strong for the 2022 season.
“The good news is, anyone who wants a Christmas tree this year will be able to find one, but variety in the types of live or artificial trees available may be limited. If you have a specific tree in mind that will make your holiday shine the brightest, we recommend shopping early to secure your ideal tree at the right price for your family,” said Warner.
For continued updates on the Christmas tree supply and industry news, visit ChristmasTreeAssociation.org or follow ACTA on Facebook or Twitter.
About American Christmas Tree Association
The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) is a non-profit organization that serves as a resource for media and consumers seeking information and education on the Christmas tree industry.
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