Christmas Tree Prices
The Christmas tree is about to become a potent symbol of Britain's economic woes with prices soaring and pine needles dropping in equal measure, it was revealed yesterday.
Imports of the most popular tree - the Nordmann Fir from Denmark - have crashed because of the pound's weakness against the euro and the Danish krone.
Although British growers say they can still satisfy demand, the price of a six foot tree is likely to be £10 more expensive than last year. And most of the versions available will not have the Nordmann's prime perceived asset - its ability to hang onto its needles rather than let them drop all over the carpet.
"We are already getting trade calls from people who can't source the trees they need," said Roger Hay, secretary of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association yesterday.
"Normally we would be importing about two million Nordmann's , but this year it will be more like 300,000. "The shortage has been caused simply because of fewer imports. It's to do with the strength of the euro and the Danish krone against sterling, which means prices have effectively gone up 25 to 30 per cent year on year."
Mr Hay said that a six foot tree which cost £35 last year was likely to cost £45 this year. "Demand will affect prices," he said. "Demand for the Nordmann is always high because people believe they don't drop their needles - and you will notice that I use the word 'believe' with caution."
"All trees will drop their needles which makes it all the more important not to buy a tree too early and to buy it when it has been freshly cut."
One piece of good news is that UK growing conditions have been good this year." Mr Hay said: "The rainy summer was good for the trees. First we had a lot of sun in May that really helped them get started and then the rain we had over the summer did them no harm at all."
The picture is similar across the UK, with the main growing areas concentrated in East Anglia, the Welsh-English borders and north-east Scotland. For all its popularity, Britain's own plantations of Nordmann Fir have remained fairly static with Norway Spruce the second most popular ahead of Fraser Fir and pines grown in the Scottish production belt.
Mr Hay said: "We want to assure customers that despite the increased cost of imports, there will be enough real trees available from UK sources to meet demand. Greater transport costs will most likely lead to an increase in cost for British grown trees but the wide range of species and the varying size means that there will be a tree suitable for every pocket."
The crisis is likely to increase demand for artificial trees. Already, John Lewis claims that a £75 woodland tree - described as "the most realistic fake tree ever" - has been flying off the shelves in its stores.