The price of the partridge, the pear tree and the rest of the ‘12 Days’ goodies is up 3.1% this year, thanks to rising labor costs.

If Christmas feels a bit more expensive this year, you can blame it on the pear tree — as well as the lords a-leaping, the ladies dancing and the drummers drumming.

The annual PNC Christmas Price Index, based on the cost of the items in “The 12 Days of Christmas,” rose 3.1% this year, with the sharpest increase coming from the 44% jump in pear tree prices.
“Robust commercial construction is sparking landscapers’ demand for ornamental trees, such as the species of pear used in the survey,” said Jeff Kleintop, chief investment strategist for PNC Wealth Management, which creates the annual survey.

But it was low unemployment — and, consequently, higher labor costs — that really put the bite in the holidays this year.

“The Christmas Price Index reflects trends in the broader economy,” said Kleintop. “After years of stagnation, wages for skilled workers, including the song’s dancers and musicians, have increased as the labor market has tightened. Also, a decline in the housing market has dampened demand for luxury goods, such as gold rings.”