Gas Prices Pushing Christmas Tree Prices Up

MIFFLINBURG, Pa. (AP) Higher gas prices are leading to costlier Christmas trees this holiday season. <br/><br/>The manager of the self-proclaimed biggest Christmas tree auction in the country, in Pennsylvania,

Friday, November 23rd 2007, 10:44 am

By: News On 6

MIFFLINBURG, Pa. (AP) Higher gas prices are leading to costlier Christmas trees this holiday season.

The manager of the self-proclaimed biggest Christmas tree auction in the country, in Pennsylvania, says buyers should prepare to pay a bit more this year. Fuel costs drove prices up about 10% over the last year for the nearly 40,000 trees sold on Tuesday at the auction.

The trees may cost more, but auction officials say you can also expect more shedding of needles due to the extended and dry fall season.

The National Christmas Tree Association says Americans purchased nearly 29 million Christmas trees last year. That's down from about 33 million in 2005.