Black Friday is known for its great holiday deals but if you're looking for a Christmas tree, be ready to pay a little more this year.
According to data from MarketWatch, the average price for a Christmas tree has more than doubled over the last decade, going from $36.50 in 2008 to $78 last year. This weekend will be the busiest for people getting their trees, and most lots have plenty on hand.
"We're loaded for bear," said the manager at Mountain Top Trees in Fort Mill. "We've been here about a dozen years."
Mountain Top has three lots serving Fort Mill, with Fraser Firs, ranging from pint size tabletop trees to sky high giants, all ready to be cut and loaded.
"We have to sell these," the manager said. "We can hardly hold the ones we have now."
The manager said his prices have "definitely gone up" this year. Why? Well, it all goes back to the recession in 2008. He says when people didn't buy as many trees, farmers didn't plant as many, and because trees only grow about a foot each year, the supply is still behind the economy.
Mountain Top says they try hard to not pass on any more of those price increases to customers than what's absolutely necessary to stay in business. So if you're picking out the perfect tree this weekend, you can expect to pay $5 or $10 more than last year. Researchers say this weekend will have peak supply, but the demand will create the highest prices of the season.
There is some good news, though. More trees are being planted on farms across the region. While prices will again be up in 2020, experts say they'll be back to normal in two years as the shortage comes to an end.