Thursday, December 10, 2015

THE 2015 PNC CHRISTMAS PRICE INDEX

 

As it has been doing since 1984, PNC announced its annual Christmas Price Index, which shows the current cost for one set of each of the gifts given in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”.

The price tag for the 32nd Christmas Price Index totals $34,130.99, only $198 or .6%, more than the 2014 CPI.  This is the lowest increase in 6 years.  The increase is not much more than the .2% increase in the Consumer Price Index. 

The CPI has increased a total of 84% since its inception in 1984.

Nine of the twelve items show no increase for 2015.  Only the Partridge in a Pear Tree (up $7.31 or 3.5%), the Turtle Doves (up $2.31 or 11.5%), and the Leaping Lords (up $160.46 or 3%) cost more in 2015 than 2014.

The increase in the Partridge is due to the growing popularity as a gourmet food and in backyard farming.  The Turtle Doves cost more because of increased grain prices.  And apparently the Leaping Lords had the only effective union this year.

The performers in the group, Leapers and Dancers, earn much more than the musicians, Pipers and Drummers, the average performer earning $768.33 each while the average musician earned only $238.70.  The Dancing Lady is the highest paid of the group, earning $288.33 more than a Leaping Lord.  The poor Milking Maids get the minimum wage of only $7.25.

PNC also calculates the total cost of the items gifted by the True Love in all of the song’s verses, aka the “True Cost of Christmas”.  The total cost for all 364 gifts for 2015 is $155,407, $899.10 more than last year.

And it adds up the cost for those who prefer the convenience of online shopping.  The 2015 Internet CPI is $43,626.73, almost $9,500 more than buying in person.  This is up $667.66 or 1.6% from 2014.  Convenience is expensive, mostly due to added shipping and handling costs for the specialty items.

FYI, the “cheapest” PNC Christmas Price Index was 1995, when it was just over $15,600.

For more information on the PNC Christmas Price Index go online to https://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com.

                     THE 2015 PNC CHRISTMAS PRICE INDEX ®

 
Item
Traditional
2014
2015
% Change
One Patridge in a Pear  Tree
$207.68
$214.99
3.5%
 
Patridge
$20.00
$25.00
25.0%
Pear Tree
$187.68
$189.99
1.2%
Two Turtle Doves
$260.00
$290.00
11.5%
Three French Hens
$181.50
$181.50
0.0%
Four Calling Birds
$599.96
$599.96
0.0%
Five Gold Rings
$750.00
$750.00
0.0%
Six GeeseaLaying
$360.00
$360.00
0.0%
Seven SwansaSwimming*
$13,125.00
$13,125.00
0.0%
Eights MaidsaMilking
$58.00
$58.00
0.0%
Nine Ladies  Dancing
$7,552.84
$7,552.84
0.0%
10 LordsaLeaping
$5,348.24
$5,508.70
3.0%
11 Pipers Piping
$2,635.20
$2,635.20
0.0%
12 Drummers Drumming
$2,854.80
$2,854.80
0.0%
 
Total Christmas Price  Index
 
$33,933.22
 
$34,130.99
 
0.6%
 
True Cost of  Christmas in Song
 
$154,508.08
 
$155,407.18
 
0.6%
 
"Core"  Index,  excluding Swans
 
$20,808.22
 
$21,005.99
 
1.0%

 
* Revised: 2014 traditional price adjusted to better reflect open market
   pricing.

TTFN

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