For those who have never had an account, PNC is (or was once) the Pittsburgh National Corporation, and they are a regional bank. Anyway, they produce an annual whimsical 12 Days of Christmas price index. Ornamental/pet birds haven’t changed much in price since last year – no change for the partridge, the turtle doves, the calling birds, or the swans, and the price of french hens has only slightly outpaced inflation at 5%. Food has increased if pear trees and geese are good indicators (+15-16%). Maids a-milking are assumed to earn the federal minimum wage and have therefore not received a raise since 2009. Professional artistic performers have done pretty well, with 7-16% raises, although musicians seem to be doing better than dancers according to this index. As a family man financing a viewing of the Nutcracker next week, I can vouch for the fact that live entertainment is quite expensive. Not that music and art are not valuable – hopefully after the singularity we will spread our newfound wealth around so that all can enjoy in our newfound leisure time. Until then we will have to continue relying on some combination of government subsidies and the largesse of the wealthy, who seem willing to finance the arts because (a) this is tax exempt and (b) it benefits primarily other wealthy people.

Finally, PNC does remind us that we would have to actually buy 12 partridges in 12 pear trees 22 turtle doves, etc. if the repetition in the song is taken literally. So it would get quite pricey indeed.

Happy Holidays everyone!