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Christmas prices across Greater Cincinnati are rising for 2025.
Christmas prices for decorations, trees, food and holiday staples are up compared with last year.
Rising costs hit holiday goods this season
Many holiday shoppers in Cincinnati and beyond are seeing Christmas prices climb.
According to a nationwide analysis from Bankrate, 78 percent of “holiday staples” — including decorations, food, gifts, and festive supplies, have become more expensive since September 2024.
Items used for entertaining, from food to soft drinks, registered some of the steepest price hikes.
That trend extends beyond food. This year, typical holiday materials like wrapping paper, cards, or decorations are also costing more.
Why are Christmas prices climbing
One key driver behind higher holiday costs is inflation plus import tariffs on holiday decor and trees.
For example, the American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) reports that many artificial trees and imported decorations are facing tariff-related cost increases of 10 to 15 percent this year.
Shoppers may also confront less selection than usual: supply chain complications and higher import costs have prompted some retailers to reduce orders of decorations by 15–20 percent, which could lead to limited inventory or early sell-outs.
Meanwhile, the light-hearted but insightful PNC Christmas Price Index (PNC CPI), which tracks the cost of the gifts from the “Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, rose 4.5 percent in 2025 compared to 2024.
That suggests consumers pay significantly more for holiday season “gifts and trimmings” this year than last.
The cost of all 12 of those symbolic gifts now totals about $51,476.12 under PNC’s measure.
What Cincinnati shoppers should expect this season
Local residents should anticipate higher bills when decorating or hosting holiday gatherings:
- Artificial Christmas trees could cost 10 to 15 percent more than in previous years, a meaningful increase for many households.
- Holiday decor, lighting, ornaments, cards and wrapping will likely set you back more than last season.
- Holiday meals and entertaining may also cost more due to higher grocery and food costs, especially items like candy, sweets, meats, and treats, which saw strong price inflation.
- Because many retailers ordered fewer goods this year, popular items (like pre-lit trees, popular ornaments, or specialty decorations) may sell out sooner.
These pressures make timing and careful budgeting more important than ever.
Tips for navigating higher Christmas prices
To stretch holiday budgets while still celebrating, shoppers in Cincinnati , and across the U.S., may want to:
- Shop early to avoid sell-outs, especially for trees and decor.
- Compare stores and seek sales or discount retailers, rather than waiting for last-minute buys.
- Prioritize: spend on what matters (tree, basic decorations, gifts) and skip less essential extras.
- Consider real Christmas trees or simpler decorations when the cost of artificial trees and elaborate decor spikes.
Given these national trends—inflation, tariffs, and rising costs for staples—it’s reasonable to expect that people in Greater Cincinnati are seeing noticeable increases in what they pay for Christmas trees, lights, decorations, holiday food, and gifts this year.
/ with reports from NBC 15, Michigan Public, WKMG, The Washington Post
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