The Price Of True Love for 1999

The price of giving all the items bestowed by the "true love" of
the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" may be a little beyond
most people's budget. The following costs were calculated for
1999, based upon a report issued in 1995 by PNC Bank Corp.,
assuming an annual rate of inflation of 2.5 percent

1. Partridge in a pear tree $38.95
2. Turtle doves $55.35
3. French hens $16.40
4. Calling birds $309.55
5. Gold rings $497.13
6. Geese-a-laying $166.05
7. Swans-a-swimming $7,726.45
8. Maids-a-milking $37.93
9. Pipers piping $2,877.18
10. Ladies dancing $3,326.13
11. Lords-a-leaping $1,223.85
12. Drummers drumming $1,325.33

Total to give gifts once $17,600.28

Total to give as in song* $80,973.98

* Singing the song in its entirety results in 364 presents. The
partridge is given 12 times, two doves 11 times (22 total), etc.,
etc., etc...