‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ are more expensive in 2023, mirroring the economy
In a year that has seen rising inflation and escalating costs across various sectors, the price tag to purchase all the gifts mentioned in the classic song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has reached a staggering $46,729.86.
This figure, as calculated by the PNC Christmas Price Index (CPI), reflects the combined cost of the 12 gifts that compose the naughty or nice list.
Surprisingly, there were no price increases this year for five of the gifts, providing a glimmer of relief for idealized holiday shoppers. The Four Calling Birds, Five Gold Rings, Seven Swans-A-Swimming, Eight Maids-A-Milking, and Nine Ladies Dancing were among the gifts that maintained their previous prices.
However, while the cost of a Partridge remained unchanged, there was a significant 15% jump in the price of a Pear Tree. This increase is seen as a proxy for housing costs, which continue to rise despite the highest mortgage rates since 2000. It highlights the ongoing struggle for affordable housing in the current economic climate.
2023 PNC Christmas Price IndexKELLY PHILLIPS ERB
Although the gifts themselves did not experience substantial price increases, the wages for skilled labor, represented by the performers in the song, have risen. This means that while True Loves may not see significant increases in the cost of goods, they will feel the impact of rising labor costs on their holiday budget.
The cost of Nine Ladies Dancing remained steady, but there were notable increases for Ten Lords-a-Leaping, Eleven Pipers Piping, and the 12 Drummers Drumming.
Prices for performers increased by 3.3% this year, a considerable difference from the previous year's surge of 14.6%.
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For those aiming to impress their true love by purchasing all 364 items mentioned in the song, the price tag has crossed the $200,000 threshold for the first time. The total cost to acquire all the gifts amounts to $201,972.66, representing a 2.5% increase from the previous year.
Furthermore, the convenience of online shopping comes with its own price. Buying all 12 gifts online now costs 4.8% more than in 2022, with a total price tag of $52,024.03. This increase is primarily attributed to elevated shipping and packaging costs that have yet to ease since the onset of the pandemic.
Lastly, the rare and coveted turtle doves experienced the largest percentage increase this year, soaring by an astonishing 25%. This surge can be attributed to limited supply, making the turtle doves even more sought after and valuable.