‘12 Days of Christmas’ just got more pricey

Holiday shopping this year comes with a drawback: The cost of buying your true love all the gifts from “The Twelve Days of Christmas” rose nearly 26% this year. ⬤ The combined cost for the dozen gifts featured in the final verse of the famed Christmas carol totals $45,523. That’s an overall 10.5% increase, or $4,317 higher than last year’s price tag, according to the 39th annual PNC Christmas Price Index. ⬤ The expense of some of the index’s birds is a major contributor. Swan, calling bird and partridge prices didn’t change from last year, but those of turtle doves, French hens and geese soared by 20%. The quality of the services has also surged, boosting the overall increase.

“This is a disquieting development for many, as pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and elevated energy and commodity prices continue to impact the cost of goods and services,” said Amanda Agati, chief investment officer for PNC Asset Management Group, in a statement released with the roundup. “Despite True Loves’ generous intentions, the gifts that make up the PNC CPI are not well-insulated from what is being experienced across the broader economy.”