A Christmas tradition could be sawing off a larger branch of your holiday budget then before. Gas prices have started to increase the cost of Christmas trees across the nation, and even in Central Nebraska. Kearney Resident Ted Sup said, “We usually go for the fir trees.” Ted Sup has had a real Christmas tree in his home since he was little. He says there s nothing like the smell of the pines. “It s great! I look for fragrence, color,” Sup explained.
“They weren t usually of this calliber, the trees now are gorgeous and you do pay for it.” But high gas prices have made trees costlier for businesses, possibly cutting a family s budget this holiday season. The owner of Marv s Beautiful Christmas Trees, Mike Miller said, “When we started freight costs were about $800 now they re $2,000.” Marv s Beautiful Christmas Trees in Kearney isn t in it to make a profit, they re more about completing the holiday experience.
“I m not increasing prices,” Miller described. “It s all about tradition you used to go to the grocery store and the tress come from Canada and they flatened the trees when they d ship them. It s all about tradition and for me it s a way to give back to the community.” Americans bought about 4 million less trees in 2006 than the previous year. With prices on the rise, Ted won t shy away from the beauty of a douglas fir in his home. “I ll keep buying a real tree.
It s worth the price, once a year is all you buy a tree,” Sup concluded. The National Christmas Tree Association says more than 29 million trees were purchased last year. Marv s Beautiful Christmas Trees will start their “Trees for Troops” promotion this Friday.