If you’ve ever thought about actually purchasing all the items listed in the holiday classic “The 12 Days of Christmas,” you had better have a pile of cash ready. According PNC Financial, the total cost of realizing the full 12 Days of Christmas has crossed the $100,000 mark for the first time, coming in at $101,119.84. While that’s only a 4.4% change from last year, it’s a 35% increase over the total price from only five years ago. The single most expensive item on the list is the seven swans a-swimming, at $6,300, followed closely by the $6,294.03 you’d have to pay for the nine ladies dancing. The cheapest item would be eight maids a-milking, which only costs $58. The partridge only costs $15, but it has to come with the pear tree, which adds another $169.99. However, even the least expensive item would need to be purchased several times over to fulfill the 12 Days bonanza. But for only $24,263.18 you can get one of each item on the list.
| 2011 PNC Christmas Price Index | ||||||
| Traditional | Internet | |||||
| % Change | % Change | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2011/10 | 2010 | 2011 | 2011/10 | |
| 1 Partridge in a Pear Tree | $161.99 | $184.99 | 14.2% | $194.94 | $242.44 | 24.4% |
| Partridge | $12.00 | $15.00 | 25.0% | $70.00 | $80.00 | 14.3% |
| Pear Tree | $149.99 | $169.99 | 13.3% | $124.94 | $162.44 | 30.0% |
| 2 Turtle Doves | $100.00 | $125.00 | 25.0% | $200.00 | $445.00 | 122.5% |
| 3 French Hen | $150.00 | $150.00 | 0.0% | $260.00 | $300.00 | 15.4% |
| 4 Calling Birds | $599.96 | $519.96 | -13.3% | $450.00 | $520.00 | 15.6% |
| 5 Gold Rings | $649.95 | $645.00 | -0.8% | $374.75 | $699.70 | 86.7% |
| 6 Geese-a-Laying | $150.00 | $162.00 | 8.0% | $525.00 | $1,386.60 | 164.1% |
| 7 Swans-a-Swimming | $5,600.00 | $6,300.00 | 12.5% | $6,482.00 | $10,412.50 | 60.6% |
| 8 Maids-a-Milking | $58.00 | $58.00 | 0.0% | $333.44 | $337.92 | 1.3% |
| 9 Ladies Dancing | $6,294.03 | $6,294.03 | 0.0% | $8,322.55 | $8,322.55 | 0.0% |
| 10 Lords-a-Leaping | $4,766.70 | $4,766.70 | 0.0% | $13,373.35 | $13,373.35 | 0.0% |
| 11 Pipers Piping | $2,356.20 | $2,427.60 | 3.0% | $2,200.00 | $2,200.00 | 0.0% |
| 12 Drummers Drumming | $2,552.55 | $2,629.90 | 3.0% | $1,620.00 | $1,620.00 | 0.0% |
| Total Price Index | $23,439.38 | $24,263.18 | 3.5% | $34,336.03 | $39,860.06 | 16.1% |
| True cost in song | $96,824.29 | $101,119.84 | 4.4% | $137,851.73 | $174,382.93 | 26.5% |
| “Core” index, ex. swans | $17,839.38 | $17,963.18 | 0.7% | $27,854.03 | $29,447.56 | 5.7% |
For a historical look at PNC’s index, check out www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com. The site includes an interactive train journey where visitors can pick up each of the gifts along the way.
