Howell, Mich. – September 23, 2026 -- Ninety-one percent of U.S. wholesale Christmas tree growers plan to hold or lower prices for the 2026 season, up from 84% a year earlier, according to the Real Christmas Tree Board's fifth annual grower survey.
Growers absorb rising input costs instead of passing them to retailers
The survey of 47 wholesale growers, representing roughly half to two-thirds of the U.S. real Christmas tree market, found that despite continued year-over-year increases in input costs, most producers are choosing to absorb them rather than raise wholesale prices. Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said the outlook reflects the industry's consistency for both first-time buyers and returning customers.
Supply rated strong or very strong by 85% of growers
Eighty-five percent of surveyed wholesale growers rated 2026 supply as strong or very strong, pointing to ample availability across choose-and-cut farms, seasonal lots, home improvement stores and garden centers nationwide. A separate post-season consumer survey of 1,500 U.S. adults found 91% had no issue locating a nearby retailer during the 2025 holiday season.
Nearly 8 in 10 growers expect flat or higher sales volume
Seventy-nine percent of wholesale growers anticipate selling the same number of trees or more compared to last year, indicating steady demand heading into the 2026 season. On the consumer side, 91% of respondents who bought a real tree in 2025 said the price paid was worth it, and 56% said it was less than expected.
The grower survey was fielded in August 2026 in conjunction with FleishmanHillard, up from 43 respondents in the same survey a year earlier. The consumer survey, conducted by TRUE Global Intelligence between December 26, 2025 and January 7, 2026, carries a margin of error of ±4.8% for buyers of real trees in 2025.