How Much Do the 12 Days of Christmas Cost?

2008: The Most Expensive Christmas Ever

Dec 4, 2008 Elizabeth Richards

Just how much is a partridge in a pear tree, anyway? For the last 24 years, the PNC has calculated the CPI as a fun way to look at the cost of "The 12 Days of Christmas."

If you want to find out how much it really takes to buy the Twelve Days of Christmas, PNC Wealth Management has figured it out for you. As part of its annual tradition, PNCt tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items gifted by a True Love who repeats all of the song’s verses.

You remember the song:

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming,

Eleven pipers piping,

Ten lords a-leaping,

Nine ladies dancing,

Eight maids a-milking,

Seven swans a-swimming,

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds,

Three French hens,

Two turtle-doves,

And a partridge in a pear tree!

So how much does everything cost? Here's a breakdown for each item.

1st Day of Christmas

A PARTRIDGE

COST: $20 (last year: $15)

Also on 1st Day of Christmas

A PEAR TREE

COST: $200 (last year: $150)

2nd Day of Christmas

Two Turtle Doves

Cost: $55 (last year: $40)

3rd Day of Christmas

THREE FRENCH HENS

$30 (last year: $45)

4th Day of Christmas

FOUR CALLING BIRDS

$60 (last year: same)

5th Day of Christmas

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS

$350 (last year: $395)

6th Day of Christmas

SIX GEESE A-LAYING

$240 (last year: $360)

7th Day of Christmas

SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING

$5,600 (last year: $4,200)

8th Day of Christmas

EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING

$52 (last year: $47)

9th Day of Christmas

NINE LADIES DANCING

$4,759 (last year: same)

10th Day of Christmas

TEN LORDS A-LEAPING

$4,414 (last year: $4,285)

11th Day of Christmas

ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING

$2,285 (last year: $2,213)

12th Day of Christmas

TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING

$2,475 (last year: $2,398)

The total cost of 12 days of Christmas in 2008 for your true love? $86,609! An increase of about nine percent from last year's cost of $78,100.

The seven swans a-swimming are once again the largest force behind of this year’s index jump, with a whopping 33% increase due to their scarcity. The cost for swans this year is $5,600 compared with $4,200 in 2007. The swans typically have the largest swings in price in the PNC CPI.

Much like the US government’s CPI, the PNC's CPI also measures a "Core Index"—up just 1.1 percent this year—that excludes the swans. The core Consumer Price Index excludes volatile energy and food costs and is generally lower than the headline figure.

“Omitting the Seven Swans a-swimming may be a tempting way for a True Love to hold the line on costs, but one would be advised to proceed with caution," warned James Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC Wealth Management.

“Because our analysts can only measure the actual cost of this seasonal treasure, not its sentimental value, True Loves may want to budget a little more carefully this year in order to purchase all the items in the song,” Dunigan said.

Each year, the Christmas Price Index reflects trends in the economy. This year, worry over increased energy and shipping costs, jobs, commodities prices and a second straight minimum wage increase were major factors of the index, according to Dunigan.

PNC's interactive website provides teachers and students with insight into the Christmas Price Index and the U.S. economy.

The copyright of the article How Much Do the 12 Days of Christmas Cost? in Personal Budgeting/Finance is owned by Elizabeth Richards. Permission to republish How Much Do the 12 Days of Christmas Cost? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Lords a Leaping, Ladies Dancing; All Cost More

Swans a Swimming Cost the Most

How Much is A Partridge in a Pear Tree?

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