Culture
Inflation in the Helium Market Could Cause Holiday Parade Prices to Rise
Seriously, the price of helium is sky-rocketing -- and some think it's still below market rates.
A few years ago, Caroline Choi didn't pay much attention to helium costs. Now she can't help it. "Now it matters," she says. "Clients do not want to pay 10 or 20 percent more for balloon designs."
Choi is the owner of Capital Balloon, a D.C.-area party balloon decorating service, so she's certainly noticed the universe's second-most common element getting more expensive. Recently, she's had to explain the changes in the helium market to her clients, recommending balloon drops instead of balloon arches, encouraging designs that are lighter on helium. "To them, balloons are balloons," she says. "I have to explain to them why it's more expensive."