Christmas has always been a season of joy, but in 2025 it’s also a season of economic strain. Families across the U.S. are reporting higher prices for everything from artificial trees to ornaments and string lights. The culprit is a combination of lingering inflation and new tariffs on imported goods. Approximately 87% of U.S. Christmas decoration imports come from China. Many imported items are now subject to tariffs of 30% or more, and for categories such as holiday lighting, the rate can reach around 63%. Consumers are feeling these increased costs.. Inflation compounds the problem, raising the baseline cost of goods and leaving households with fewer options to stretch their budgets.
