‘12 Days’ list would top $107K

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Add seven swans, six geese and five golden rings to the list of Christmas gifts that cost more than in 2011.

And if you get all 364 items in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol, you’ll pay 6.1 percent more this year, according to the annual Christmas Price Index compiled by PNC Wealth Management.

That comes to $107,300.

“The rise is larger than expected considering the modest economic growth we’ve had,” said Jim Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC. He noted the government’s Consumer Price Index has risen 2 percent in the 12 months before September.

Six items mentioned in the song haven’t gone up: maids-a-milking, ladies dancing, lords-a-leaping, calling birds, turtle doves and the partridge. The eight maids-a-milking still cost $58 because the minimum wage hasn’t risen.

Twelve drummers drumming ($2,775.50) and 11 pipers piping ($2,562) might be considered bargains next to seven swans ($7,000). Nine ladies dancing will cost $6,294.03.

The price of a pear tree is $189.99, an 11.8 percent jump from last year’s $169.99. Five gold rings jumped 16.3 percent this year, to $750, and three French hens are $165, instead of $150.

The $15 partridge is the cheapest item.