The extreme rainfall that has fallen across New South Wales in 2022 has created a supply shortage of real Christmas trees, triggering a rapid rise in the price of this Christmas tradition in Australia.
This comes as Australia has been hit by its third consecutive La Nina, with Sydney experiencing its wettest October on record, with more than 286mm (almost 11 inches) of rainfall registered.
The price of Christmas trees has increased by almost 40 percent from last year, with trees shorter than 182 cm (72 inches) selling for up to $200 (US $136).
Merlino’s Christmas Trees, a family business located in inner-west Sydney, told AAP that 40 percent of their crops had been eliminated by the wet weather this year….