'True' cost of Christmas up 1.8 percent

Forget the traditional economic indicators that track holiday shopping. The true cost of Christmas has already been measured for 2009 via the classic carol "The 12 Days of Christmas."

If you ever tried to figure what it would cost to purchase all the items mentioned in the song, wonder no more because the PNC Christmas Price Index did if for you.

This means if you're a devoted romantic, slightly crazy or exceedingly wealthy -- it will cost you $87,403 to assemble everything from the partridge to the drummers. If you were to buy each item just once it would cost you $21,465.56.

The biggest gainers in the index were the french hens (up 50 percent), gold rings (up 43 percent) and dancing ladies (up 15 percent). For bargain shoppers, see the six geese (down 37 percent), partridge/pear tree (down 27 percent) and seven swans (down 6.3 percent).

"We saw a moderation in the PNC CPI ... due to the dramatic drop in energy, fuel and shipping costs," said James Dunigan, managing executive of investments for PNC Wealth Management. "The reverse was true last year, which showed a major spike in transportation costs."

Breaking Down The 12 Days of Christmas

1 partridge, pear tree -- down 27 percent

2 turtle doves -- up 1.8 percent

3 french hens -- up 50 percent

4 calling birds -- unchanged

5 gold rings -- up 43 percent

6 geese -- down 37 percent

7 swans -- down 6.3 percent

8 milking maids -- up 10.7 percent

9 dancing ladies -- up 15 percent

10 leaping lords -- unchanged

11 pipers -- unchanged

12 drummers -- unchanged