True Loves better lay in some serious cash, according PNC’s 35th year of computing the cost of the gifts in the “12 Days of Christmas.”
The PNC Christmas Price Index, released last week, said the price tag for purchasing all of the gifts listed in the song is $39,094.93.
That cost is up $450, or 1.2 percent, from last year’s prices.
For those given to extravagance and willing to spring for the cumulative cost that includes each repetition in the song, or 364 gifts, the price is $170,609.46, up 0.5 percent.
Here's a breakdown of each gift's cost — and how it compares to last year:
Day one: A partridge in a pear tree – $220.13 (up 0.1 percent)
Day two: Two turtle doves – $375 (same)
Day three: Three French hens – $181.50 (same)
Day four: Four calling birds – $599.96 (same)
Day five: Five golden rings – $750 (down 9.1 percent)
Day six: Six geese-a-laying – $390 (up 8.3 percent)
Day seven: Seven swans-a-swimming – $13,125 (same)
Day eight: Eight maids-a-milking – $58 (same)
Day nine: Nine ladies dancing – $7,552.84 (same)
Day 10: 10 lords-a-leaping – $10,000 (up 3 percent)
Day 11: 11 pipers piping: $2,804.40 (up 3.5 percent)
Day 12: 12 drummers drumming: $3,038.10 (up 3.5 percent)
While many prices have maintained or are rising, there is some news for shoppers. The price of gold has fallen nearly 10 percent in the past year, making those five rings about the same price as they were in 2016.
The index was started in 1984 as means to engage clients. Prices for the 12 Days of Christmas gifts are a bellwether of the shifting costs for the U.S. Consumer Price Index, as it touches on goods and services, like materials, food, livestock, fuel and more.
Over the past 35 years, the prices of services have increased dramatically, while the prices of the goods have slowed.
