Since 1984, PNCBank has provided an annual index of the cost of purchasing all the items listed in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." One more indication of the move from an industrial to a service economy:
In 1984, after all the receipts were added up, the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” would have set you back $12,623– the goods alone accounting for 62 percent of your total bill. Today, the numbers tell a different story. The total cost has climbed to $17,297, a 1.6 percent annualized increase over 20 years, but services now account for 74 percent of the index, indicating a steady rise in the cost of skilled labor while the price of two turtle doves and three French hens may be a little easier on your wallet.
[via Lockergnome Bytes]
Posted by johndan at November 29, 2004 11:02 PM | TrackBack