The true cost of Christmas…


…is $65,264 according to US bank PNC, which every year calculates the cost of all the items in the “12 Days of Christmas” carol. This year, giving your true love everything from the partridge to the drummers drumming is up 16%. Apparently gold rings are cheaper, but swans are way more expensive.

“The Index reflects the broader trend of productivity growth in the U.S. economy that has driven prices lower on goods while allowing prices for services to rise modestly,” said Jeff Kleintop, chief investment strategist for PNC Advisors. “Whereas in the mid-1980s the cost of the goods in the song dominated the Index, the trend over time has been toward lower goods prices, such as the pear tree, and higher prices for skilled labor, such as the pipers,” he said.
The link's here: http://www.pncbank.com/12days/ and theres a rather nifty Flash version too.