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Counting the cost of the 12 days of Christmas

A lit Christmas tree.
Charles Sykes
/
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A lit Christmas tree.

A bank’s whimsical take on the U.S. economy shows that True Love has an emptier bank account this holiday season.

According to the PNC Christmas Price Index, the Partridge in a Pear Tree climbed 16% in 2024 to $370.18 – this year’s biggest percentage jump in price. The bird costs the same, but the tree is pricier.

After a hefty price increase in 2023, the turtledoves are taking a break from sticker-shock this year. Their $750 cost reflects their rarity. It’s another modest increase for the French Hens in 2024. They rose in price by 5% this year to $346.50, but they’re still the second least expensive gift in the index. No, you didn’t time travel back to the 2014 Christmas Price Index. The Four Calling Birds just haven’t changed prices since then. They’ve come in at $599.96 for a decade.

It’s the second straight year of flat pricing in the gold market after more than five years of price hikes for this precious metal. Five gold rings will set you back $1,245 in 2024.

The geese are on a growth streak and they’re one of the most volatile gifts in this year’s index. Their price grew by 15.4% in 2024, to $900. Swans stayed flat this year, but they’re still the second most expensive gift in the index at $13,125.

Tied to the Federal Minimum Wage, which hasn’t changed since 2009, the Eight Maids-a-Milking remain priced at $58 this year. The price to hire a dance company only grew modestly this year, by 3 percent. The nine ladies dancing are still one of the most expensive gifts in the index at $8,557.37. The ten lords leapt 7.2% and are the most expensive gift in the index. They have a price tag of $15,579.65.

It’s been an expensive year in the entertainment industry and the pipers are demanding their share. Their price ballooned 15.8% to $3,714.96 in 2024 due to labor costs. The drummers also commanded a nearly 16% raise this year, to $4,016.85.

The total costs of the gifts adds up to $49,263.47.

PNC officials say the annual index, which started 41 years ago, is a fun way to measure consumer spending and trends in the economy.

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.