Do they know it's SUMMER time at all? Christmas trees are already on display at Costco and Sam's Club as holiday shopping kicks off months early amid blistering inflation
- Christmas trees and other festive products have already surfaced at stores across the US four months ahead of the holiday
- Shoppers were surprised this month when photos of the trees popped up online
- The premature displays have cause many to question why the evergreens, commonly associated with the holidays, were being shilled in the summer
- Supermarket staples such as Costco and Sam's club were among the several stores to stage the seemingly premature displays in August
- Hardware giant Home Depot, meanwhile, rolled out holiday items in mid-July
- Some have embraced the early stocking - while other have slammed it as 'madness' and a 'money grab' amid recent economic turmoil seen across the US
Christmas trees and other festive products have already surfaced at stores across the US four months ahead of the holiday - a premature start to the shopping season that comes as Americans feeling the strain of inflation look to stretch their budgets.
Shoppers were surprised this month when photos of the trees popped up on social media - causing many to question why the evergreens, commonly associated with the holidays, were being shilled in the dog days of summer.
Costco, Sam's Club, and Walmart were among the several stores to stage the seemingly premature displays in August - with hardware giant Home Depot rolling out holiday items as early as mid-July.
Still 118 days away, the holiday to some may seem, at best, on the horizon - while others have slammed the early stocking as 'madness' and a 'money grab' amid recent economic turmoil seen across the US.
Conversely, some shrewd shoppers have embraced the early stocking - taking advantage of deals being offered by the outlets to provide consumers incentive to buy the trees earlier than one might initially prefer.
But with winter yet to finish and Halloween still two months away, the phenomenon speaks to the current sad state of the American economy, which has been hopelessly hindered by inflation over the past year under President Joe Biden.
![Christmas trees and other festive products have already surfaced at stores across the US four months ahead of the holiday - a premature start to the shopping season that comes as Americans feeling the strain of inflation look to stretch their budgets](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/30/23/61885275-11162255-image-a-13_1661897602632.jpg)
Christmas trees and other festive products have already surfaced at stores across the US four months ahead of the holiday - a premature start to the shopping season that comes as Americans feeling the strain of inflation look to stretch their budgets
![Currently, Costco is offering shoppers both 7.5-foot and 12-foot Christmas trees, priced at $499 and $1,149, respectively](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/31/00/61885271-11162255-Currently_Costco_is_offering_shoppers_both_7_5_foot_and_12_foot_-a-6_1661901408080.jpg)
Currently, Costco is offering shoppers both 7.5-foot and 12-foot Christmas trees, priced at $499 and $1,149, respectively
Currently, Costco is offering shoppers both 7.5-foot and 12-foot Christmas trees, priced at $499 and $1,149, respectively.
For those looking for something more subtle, the store also offers smaller, light-up options for as low as $140, with more medium-sized alternatives ranging from $200 to $800.
Those prices are likely to swell as it gets closer to the the holidays - as major retailers such as Walmart in Target in recent weeks have noted consumers are pulling back on discretionary spending, and instead giving priority to food and gas amid rising costs.
With that said, the holiday summer stock does not end there. The store is also offering festive decorations such as Mickey Mouse Nutcracker statues, priced at $119.99 for a set of two, and Frosty the Snowman figures and effigies.
![Shoppers across the country have posted photos of the rapidly surfacing displays at the big box stores, who are trying to attract consumers with deals on the decorations](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/31/00/61885289-11162255-Shoppers_across_the_country_have_posted_photos_of_the_rapidly_su-m-7_1661901413999.jpg)
Shoppers across the country have posted photos of the rapidly surfacing displays at the big box stores, who are trying to attract consumers with deals on the decorations
![The store is also offering festive decorations such as Mickey Mouse Nutcracker statues, priced at $119.99 for a set of two, and Frosty the Snowman figures and effigies (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/30/23/61885277-11162255-image-a-16_1661900392362.jpg)
The store is also offering festive decorations such as Mickey Mouse Nutcracker statues, priced at $119.99 for a set of two, and Frosty the Snowman figures and effigies (pictured)
Keep in mind, though, to shop at Costco stores, you need to pay for a membership - which will run you $60 a year.
Many shoppers expressed jubilation seeing the decorations early - while others didn't sound nearly as pleased.
'No! I'm not ready for Christmas yet,' one person commented on a photo of decorations at a Bay Area Costco that included Grinch ornaments.
Another wrote: 'This makes me so happy, I can't wait to decorate again.'
'Time to get that Costco membership,' a third chimed in.
Others saw humor in the fact that the Christmas products were being hocked in the middle of summer, four months ahead of the big day.
'Saw Christmas trees in a Costco in July and ooooh I was mad,' one Twitter poster joked.
![For those looking for something more subtle, the store also offers smaller, light-up options for as low as $140, such as these 4.5-footers, with more medium-sized alternatives ranging from $200 to $800](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/31/00/61387273-11162255-For_those_looking_for_something_more_subtle_the_store_also_offer-m-8_1661901423880.jpg)
For those looking for something more subtle, the store also offers smaller, light-up options for as low as $140, such as these 4.5-footers, with more medium-sized alternatives ranging from $200 to $800
![Prices of the festive firs are likely to swell as it gets closer to the the holidays - as major retailers have noted consumers are pulling back on discretionary spending, and instead giving priority to food and gas amid rising costs](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/31/00/61885291-11162255-image-a-18_1661900582114.jpg)
Prices of the festive firs are likely to swell as it gets closer to the the holidays - as major retailers have noted consumers are pulling back on discretionary spending, and instead giving priority to food and gas amid rising costs
Others were simply confused by the decorations' presence at the stores before September. 'Why are there Christmas trees for sale in Costco?' someone asked.
Another tagged the company in a questioning post: '@Costco, what in the world are you thinking! It's not even September 1 yet... and we're shopping Christmas trees already.'
Another, more inclined, shopper wrote: 'I think you might have to take me to Costco.'
Walmart and Sam's Club, meanwhile, which have nearly 5,400 locations across the country between the two of them, are also offering trees, for as low as $49.
It comes as decades-high inflation, although now easing, has pushed affluent shoppers to relentlessly hunt for bargains, with Walmart recently saying its low-priced food and consumables were even drawing more middle- and higher-income customers.
Elevated inventory levels at stores due to inflation-hit consumers cutting back on discretionary purchases have also forced chains offer deep discounts to clear excess stocks.
![Elevated inventory levels at stores due to inflation-hit consumers cutting back on discretionary purchases have also forced chains offer deep discounts to clear excess stocks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/31/00/61885281-11162255-image-a-19_1661900653719.jpg)
Elevated inventory levels at stores due to inflation-hit consumers cutting back on discretionary purchases have also forced chains offer deep discounts to clear excess stocks
Others are offering sales to minimize waste this festive season, as store stocks continue to burgeon as many cash-strapped Americans remain hesitant to spend what little disposable income they may have.
According to the latest inflation data, the price of groceries rose 12.2 percent nationwide this summer from a year ago, the quickest pace since April of 1979.
Soaring food prices played a major role in pushing overall inflation to 9.1 percent last month, a four-decade high which has since ticked down slightly to 8.5 percent
Meanwhile, a recent study found that 61 percent of Americans are living pay-check-to-paycheck, and the burden of higher food and gas prices is pushing many family budgets to the limit.
![It comes as major retailers including Walmart Inc. and Target Corp. in recent weeks have reported decreases in shoppers over the past year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/02/03/60686165-11069857-Walmart_lowered_its_profit_outlook_for_the_second_quarter_and_th-a-145_1659406110866.jpg)
It comes as major retailers including Walmart Inc. and Target Corp. in recent weeks have reported decreases in shoppers over the past year
Discount chains, including dollar stores, have seen a huge spike in grocery sales as shoppers try to stretch their paychecks through the month and keep food on the table.
With that said, more than 4 in 10 are spending less on groceries, according to a recent CNBC survey released earlier this month, and about a third are using their credit cards more often to make it through the financial crunch.
Shoppers are also spending less on everyday basics like bread, eggs and milk as well as processed goods like juice boxes, according to another study by NielsenIQ - with discretionary purchases becoming even more rare.
Some 65 percent of respondents said they were spending less on concerts and other types of entertainment, while another 61 percent said they were driving less — with the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline still well above $4.50.
Experts blame inflation on everything from supply chain issues to the war in Ukraine's impact on food and energy markets. Still, high prices have doubtless hurt President Joe Biden's approval rating, which has sagged to about 37 percent.
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