12 Days Of Christmas Costs $107K In 2012, Up $6K From 2011

A list of gifts for the 12 days of Christmas costs a bit more than the already-expensive single day of Christmas with which most of us are forced to contend, but the lengthy list of 364 items immortalized in the holiday carol has increased in price by around $6,000 from last year.

The 12 days of Christmas cost is tallied each year by PNC Wealth Management, and the firm has crafted a little interactive journey around each of the 12 traditional “gifts” with a game for Christmas shoppers to play and locate each of the items around the globe.

PNC cites a stronger consumer showing for the increase in the Christmas Price Index (CPI) price tag, with Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC Wealth Management, explaining:

“The rise of the PNC CPI is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we’ve had over the past 12 months … Despite some weak spots in the economy, consumer balance sheets are improving along with consumer confidence, which means this may still be a spirited holiday season.”

The tradition of tallying the tab for the 12 days of Christmas began nearly three decades ago, as PNC adds up the cumulative cost of 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, ten lords leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying …

… as well as 5 golden rings:

Rounding out the list are four calling birds, three French Hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. And while all could be had last year for the bargain basement price of just $101,119, 2012’s 12 days of Christmas spree will set you back a far less reasonable $107,300.

Average costs on the list going up are blamed on items including the five gold rings, which jumped more than 16 percent in 2012, and a 5.5 percent increase in the cost of pipers piping and drummers drumming. However, the unskilled maids a-milking receive a wage flat to that in 2011, suggesting perhaps a milkmaid walkout would improve conditions for the eight underappreciated laborers.

Do you price out the 12 days of Christmas using the CPI each year to rationalize your own Christmas spending?

SNL Weekend Update – Stefon Christmas from Deets Duckie on Vimeo.