Every year the Consumer Price Index calculates the cost of the 12 Days of Christmas. It should come as no surprise that this year the 12 gifts will cost slightly more than last year. In 2016 the price of the ’12 days’ totaled $34,363.49 compared to this year’s $34,558.65.
In 2017, three gifts saw an increase ranging from 2% to 10%: the partridge in a pear tree, the five gold rings, and the 10 lords-a-leaping.
Here’s a breakdown of the cost for each day:
A partridge in a pear tree will cost $220 compared to $210 last year. The price of partridges remained the same but the cost of pear trees has gone up.
Two turtle doves are the same as 2016 at $375.
Three French hens are the same price this year at $182.
Four calling birds were still $600.
Five gold rings did go up this year to $825 compared to last year’s $750.
Six geese-a-laying is the same in 2017 as in 2016 at $360.
Seven swans-a-swimming is one of the most expensive items on the list, but it held steady from 2016 to 2017 at $13,125.
No wage rise for eight maids-a-milking which stayed at $58.
Nine ladies dancing, the most expensive item in the 12 days remained unchanged at $7,553.
Ten lords-a-leaping went up too, but it was the only labour group that saw an increase after two years of staying steady. In 2017 the price is $5,619, up $110 from 2016.
Eleven pipers piping remained unchanged from last year at $2,708.
Twelve drummers drumming had a 0% change from last, holding at $2, 934.
For 2017, the total cost of the Twelve Days of Christmas is $34,559.
That’s inflation for you.