Cost of the 12 Days of Christmas Rises 9.2% to $23,439
The cost of Christmas rose 9.2% this year, that according to the 27th annual PNC Christmas Price Index. The study measures the cost of items listed in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” holiday song. This year, the price tag is $23,439, up $1,974 from 2009.
The overall increase is being attributed to the rising cost of gold, higher wages, and benefits for some entertainers. That being said, the cost of Five Gold Rings went up 30 percent to $650.
The biggest dollar increase was for Nine Ladies Dancing, up $820 or 15% from last year. The 10 Lords-a-Leaping were pretty pricey too, jumping 8 percent to $4,766.
Four items on the list of 12 remain unchanged: the Partridge in a Pear Tree, Four Calling Birds, Six Geese-a-Laying and Eight Maids-a-Milking.
The Wealth Management Firm, PNC, says the increase in the Christmas Price Index comes despite low inflation, a sluggish economy. The financial services group uses the list each year to teach economic trends.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; information courtesy PNC Financial Services)