True Love’s 12 Christmas Gifts Rise 1.2% from 2017

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – True loves will need to have more money on hand to fill the stockings on the mantle this holiday shopping season, according to The PNC Christmas Price Index.

To purchase the gifts included in the classic holiday song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” it will cost 1.2% more than it did in 2017, according to the 35th annual holiday economic analysis by The PNC Financial Services Group.

PNC calculated the 2018 price tag for The PNC Christmas Price Index at $39,094.93, approximately $450 or 1.2% more than last year’s cost, but less than the government’s Consumer Price Index, which increased 2.5% through October in year-over-year measurement before seasonal adjustment.

“While we have witnessed more market volatility this year, consumer confidence remains strong and wage growth is beginning to catch up with high employment,” said Amanda Agati, co-chief investment strategist for The PNC Financial Services Group. “The PNC Christmas Price Index reflects these trends, as we see strong growth in key areas.”

The cost of each item was revealed this morning on PNC’s website, which teaches consumers about the index and features a comparison of index data.

This year’s insights include:

• Golden Geese: The price for six geese-a-laying was up 8.3%, after not seeing an increase since 2014.
• Tarnished Rings: After posting the largest growth rate in 2017’s index, the cost of five gold rings fell 9% due to less demand and fluctuations in gold prices throughout 2018.
• Leapers, pipers and drummers, oh, my: As lagging wages start to catch up to a tight labor market, the lords-a-leaping, pipers piping and drummers drumming all saw an increase, as costs rose between 3% and 3.5%.

To mirror the government’s core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, PNC removes the swans – typically the most volatile item in the index – from its total index. The core PNC Christmas Price Index was up 1.7% from a year ago, while the government’s core Consumer Price Index rose 2.1% year-over-year through October.

For tech-savvy true loves, the PNC Christmas Price Index also calculates the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts purchased on the internet. As internet prices tend to be higher due to travel and shipping costs, true loves will have to splurge $41,165.95 ($2,071.02 more than in-store purchases) for the convenience of online shopping this year.

A PNC predecessor bank in Philadelphia began estimating the cost of the 12 Christmas gifts in 1984 as a holiday client letter. This year’s price is approximately 95% higher than the inaugural report 34 years ago.

As part of its annual tradition, PNC also tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items bestowed by a true love who repeats all the song’s verses. Purchasing all 364 gifts will require $170,609.46, up $781.94 from last year and $66,813.45 from 1984.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.