COST OF THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!!

The Cost of True Love

   How much does true love really cost? In the popular holiday song "The 12 Days of Christmas," a series of gifts are given by a "true love", but something the song won't tell you is that the cost of these gifts - from the 12 drummers drumming to a partridge in a pear tree - in reality is quite pricey.
   Since 1984, PNC Financial has calculated the real-world cost of the song, or what you would hypothetically pay if these gifts were bought at today's prices. The Christmas Price Index , which is up 1.8% year-over-year to $21,465.56, is a measure of inflation in the price of consumer goods, similar to the more traditional Consumer Price Index. Included in the report are traditional prices (or the cost for items from traditional retailers) as well as online prices from Internet vendors for the individual items. For the traditional prices, PNC's resources for price information range from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh to the Pennsylvania Ballet Company and a jewelry retailer in Indianapolis.
   So, what do the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas cost this year, and how do they compare to 2008?

Twelve Drummers Drumming

Traditional Prices
2009: $2,475.20
2008: $2,475.20
Change: 0.0%

Internet Prices
2009: $1,620
2008: $1,620
Change: 0.0% 

Eleven Pipers Piping

Traditional Prices
2009: $2,284.80
2008: $2,284.80
Change: 0.0%

Internet Prices
2009: $2,200
2008: $2,100
Change: 4.8%

Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Traditional Prices
2009: $4,413.61
2008: $4,413.61
Change: 0.0%

Internet Prices
2009: $11,629.79
2008: $11,629.00
Change: 0.0%

Nine Ladies Dancing

Traditional Prices
2009: $5,473.07
2008: $4,759.19
Change: 15.0%

Internet Prices
2009: $7,237
2008: $7,237
Change: 0.0%

Eight Maids-a-Milking

Traditional Prices
2009: $58.00
2008: $52.40
Change: 10.7%

Internet Prices
2009: $324.16
2008: $310.08
Change: 4.5%

Seven Swans-a-Swimming

Traditional Prices
2009: $5,250
2008: $5,600
Change: -6.3%

Internet Prices 2009: $6,450
2008: $7,035
Change: -8.3

Six Geese-a-Laying

Traditional Prices
2009: $150
2008: $240
Change: -37.5%

Internet Prices
2009: $555
2008: $660
Change: -15.9%

Five Golden Rings

Traditional Prices 2009: $499.95
2008: $349.95
Change: 42.9%

Internet Prices
2009: $349.75
2008: $329.75
Change: 6.1%

Four Calling Birds

Traditional Prices
2009: $599.96
2008: $599.96
Change: 0.0%

Internet Prices 2009: $500
2008: $475
Change: 5.3%

Three French Hens

Traditional Prices
2009: $45
2008: $30
Change: 50%

Internet Prices
2009: $195
2008: $195
Change: 0.0%

Two Turtle Doves

Traditional Prices 2009: $55.98
2008: $55.00
Change: 1.8%

Internet Prices
2009: $165
2008: $130
Change: 26.9%

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Traditional Prices
2009: $159.99
2008: $219.99
Change: -27.3%

Internet Prices
2009: $209.94
2008: $235.00
Change: -10.7%