Price of party balloons going up

September 23, 2011

Nationally, retailers are still getting helium but are paying more for less. The International Balloon Association says the shortage isn't as severe as one in 2007, but it's apparently tight enough that balloon retailers are feeling the squeeze.

Hospitals and industrial clients are supplied with helium first. Then it's sold to retail outlets.

Prices for tanks range between $85 and $95. That's about $10 more than it was a year ago.

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