PITTSBURGH — Making one’s true love happy will cost a whopping $87,403 this year, a minuscule increase from last year, according to the latest cost analysis of the items in the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
That’s the grand total for the single partridge in a pear tree to the 12 drummers drumming, purchased repeatedly as the song suggests, according to the annual “Christmas Price Index” compiled by PNC Wealth Management. The price is up a mere $794, less than 1 percent, from $86,609 last year.
The cost of buying each item just once is increasing this year to $21,466, up 1.8 percent from last year’s $21,081.
Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investment for PNC Wealth Management, which has been calculating the cost of Christmas since 1984, attributed the modest increase to lower energy costs and fewer wage increases.
It’s the smallest increase since 2002, when the cost actually decreased, according to PNC.
The main driver behind the higher cost is that the price of gold has increased 43 percent, bringing the five golden rings up $150 to $500.
Although wage increases were modest, nine ladies dancing, at $5,473 per performance, is the costliest item, surpassing the cost of any of the material goods. The most expensive goods are the seven swans a-swimming at $5,250, but their cost decreased 6.3 percent from last year’s $5,600.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. checks jewelry stores, dance companies, pet stores and other sources to compile the list.
True love’s pricey wish list
Prices of items in the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” according to PNC Wealth Management:
Partridge: $10 (2008 price: $20)
Pear Tree: $150 ($200)
Two Turtle Doves: $56 ($55) Three French Hens: $45 ($30) Four Calling Birds (canaries): $600 (same)
Five Gold Rings: $500 ($350)
Six Geese a-Laying: $150 ($240 )
Seven Swans a-Swimming: $5,250 ($5,600 )
Eight Maids a-Milking: $58 (last year: $52)
Nine Ladies Dancing: $5,473 per performance ($4,759)
10 Lords a-Leaping: $4,414 per performance (same)
11 Pipers Piping: $2,285 per performance (same)
12 Drummers Drumming: $2,475 per performance (same)
