Retailers say Christmas tree sales are one bright spot in an otherwise dismal holiday shopping season.

Dale Howard of Howard's House of Trees has tree farms in Marathon and Maine. He says sales will be up this year over last, and that's typical in hard times, when people usually buy more trees.

Howard says families who have to cut back in other areas usually still want a Christmas tree.

Jerry Budnik of Jerry's Tree Farm in the town of Knowlton says he's had customers coming out to cut trees even in frigid temperatures. He says the busiest time is just after Thanksgiving in the first part of December.