Annie's Mailbox® by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar

Dear Readers: A Merry Christmas to one and all. Here's an interesting take on the following well-known song, figures courtesy of the PNC Christmas Price Index:

"The Twelve Days of Christmas"

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree (cost: $184.99, an increase of 14.2 percent from last year).

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves ($125, an increase of 25 percent), and a partridge in a pear tree (another $184.99).

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me, three French hens ($150, no increase), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, four calling birds ($519.96, those actually decreased 13.3 percent), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, five gold rings ($645, believe it or not, a decrease of 0.8 percent), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six geese-a-laying ($162, an increase of 8 percent), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99),

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300, expensive to begin with, they went up 12.5 percent), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eight maids-a-milking ($58, still at minimum wage), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03, no increase in salary), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, ten lords-a-leaping ($4,766.70, no increase), nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me, eleven pipers piping ($2,427.60, slightly higher at 3 percent), ten lords-a-leaping ($4,766.70), nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming ($2,629.90, also a 3 percent increase), eleven pipers piping ($2,427.60), ten lords-a-leaping ($4,766.70), nine ladies dancing ($6,294.03), eight maids-a-milking ($58), seven swans-a-swimming ($6,300), six geese-a-laying ($162), five gold rings ($645), four calling birds ($519.96), three French hens ($150), two turtle doves ($125), and a partridge in a pear tree ($184.99).

The total cost of these gifts would be $101,119.84 — even more for Internet shoppers with delivery costs.

Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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