Trade tariffs are driving up artificial Christmas tree costs by about 30%, affecting holiday traditions for millions of Americans. Industry leaders seek exemptions while retailers offer deeper Black Friday discounts.

Inflation has risen in three of the last four months and is slightly higher than it was a year ago.

If roughly 45,000 U.S. longshoremen make good on their threat to strike beginning Tuesday, they could shut down 36 ports from Maine to Texas that handle about half the goods shipped into and out of the United States.