"The Price Of True Love" joke

The price of giving all the items bestowed by the "true love" of the song
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" may be a little beyond most people's
budget. The following costs were calculated for 1998, based upon a
report issued in 1995 by PNC Bank Corp., assuming an annual rate of
inflation of 2. 5 percent

1. Partridge in a pear tree $38
2. Turtle doves $54
3. French hens $16
4. Calling birds $302
5. Gold rings $485
6. Geese-a-laying $162
7. Swans-a-swimming $7, 538
8. Maids-a-milking $37
9. Pipers piping $2, 807
10. Ladies dancing $3, 245
11. Lords-a-leaping $1, 194
12. Drummers drumming $1, 293

Total to give gifts once $17, 170
Total to give as in song* $78, 986

* Singing the song in its entirety results in 364 presents. The partridge
is given 12 times, two doves 11 times (22 total), etc., etc., etc...