Inflation hits Mother’s Day with flower prices up 14%

Bloomberg

If you’re planning to send flowers for Mother’s Day, expect to pay more.
Marie Noe, owner of A Bella Mia flower shop in Norwood, Massachusetts, has raised her prices by 24% across the board in the past three years to cover costs. Some items Noe has raised even more, citing an arrangement that used to sell for $59.99 before the pandemic which now costs $20 more. “As time has gone by, everything is getting higher and higher instead of dropping down a little,” Noe said.
Indoor plants and flower prices are up 14% since the early days of the pandemic, according to statistics from the Labor Department. Thinking about sending candy instead? That’s 7.6% more expensive in the last year alone.
The increases follow the broader trend in the economy: US consumer prices rose in March by the most since late 1981.
Despite the high prices, demand remains strong. “Flower consumption has risen in the United States quite a bit during the pandemic,” and supply-chain issues have much improved compared to a year ago, said Patrick Dahlson, CEO of Mayesh, a national flower wholesaler.