(LOOTPRESS) – Every year, PNC Bank crunches the numbers to calculate the cost of the gifts listed in the classic holiday carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” This year’s PNC Christmas Price Index (CPI) reveals the price of purchasing all 364 items mentioned in the song—including every “partridge in a pear tree” and “five golden rings.”
The Total Cost of Christmas Cheer
For 2024, PNC estimates the total cost of buying all the gifts from the song once—known as the “True Cost of Christmas”—at $45,523.27, reflecting a modest increase over last year due to inflation, labor costs, and supply chain factors. However, if a true enthusiast were to repeat each gift as sung in the song, the grand total for all 364 items would soar to over $200,000.
Breaking Down the Costs
Key highlights from the breakdown include:
- Partridge in a Pear Tree: This year, the partridge and its tree saw a price increase, totaling $280.18, up 3.5% due to higher agricultural costs.
- Two Turtle Doves: At $750, these symbolize one of the most significant percentage jumps, with a 7% increase from last year, reflecting rising avian care costs.
- Five Golden Rings: Jewelry prices remain steady, with the rings priced at $1,245.
- Seven Swans-a-Swimming: The most extravagant gift in the song, the swans will set you back $13,125, holding their position as the most expensive item.
- Eight Maids-a-Milking: Thanks to unchanged federal minimum wages for farm laborers, their cost remains one of the most affordable at just $58 for the group.
An Interactive Tradition
PNC’s Christmas Price Index, launched nearly 40 years ago, offers a playful, data-driven look at holiday spending trends. The bank uses real-world pricing for the items, sourcing everything from live bird prices to the hourly rates of performers, such as drummers and pipers.
Inflation and Holiday Spending
The CPI also serves as a lighthearted indicator of broader economic trends. While certain items, like the golden rings, have seen minimal fluctuation, others, such as the live birds, reflect rising costs due to supply chain challenges and increased demand.
PNC offers an interactive online experience to explore the Christmas Price Index, including comparisons to previous years and deeper dives into individual costs. To learn more about this year’s holiday gift calculations, visit PNC’s Christmas Price Index website.
Whether you’re singing along or shopping for your true love, The Twelve Days of Christmas remains a fun way to reflect on the costs—and joy—of holiday giving.
