今天在工商時報看到一篇報導物價上漲的新聞。現在看到物價上漲的新聞當然一點也不稀奇,引起我的注意的是,這篇報導的根源是一個「CPI 聖誕節物價指數(Christmas Price Index)」,而這個指數可是大有來頭的!

  我個人是覺得工商時報的這篇綜合外電報導很明顯的是拼湊翻譯出來,很多地方還翻的頗奇怪,不過基本上新聞內容要說的是,PNC財富管理公司每年會以聖誕歌曲 The Twelve Days of Christmas 裡面的禮物名單為基準,去計算送出這些禮物的成本,而今年不出所料,果然比去年還要貴。

  怕有人對這首歌不熟,先把歌詞寫一下,也讓知道的人複習一下 :
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree!
沒聽過的可以去這個網頁聽看看這首歌的演奏版 :

http://www.12days.com/library/carols/12daysofxmas.htm


  這真是容易的混版面方法!

  PNC財富管理公司在23年前(因為好玩)所以開始了這個Christmas Price Index (CPI),結果大概是欲罷不能,就這樣玩了23年。還有一個 PNC Christmas Price Index 的專門網站,設計的像是專業的投資網站一下,下面還有指數的跑馬燈,只是仔細一看,跑馬燈的內容不就是聖誕節的12天要送的禮物嗎?

  根據歌詞,在第一天my true love送了我一隻在梨樹上的鷓鴣;第二天my true love送了我兩隻斑鳩再加上一隻在梨樹上的鷓鴣;第三天是三隻法國母雞加上前兩天的禮物;第四天是四隻唱歌小鳥(大概吧)加上前三天的禮物;第五天是五個金戒指加上前四天的禮物;第六天是六隻在下蛋的鵝加上前五天的禮物;第七天是七隻在游泳的天鵝加上前六天的禮物;第八天是八個在擠牛奶的女僕加上前七天的禮物;第九天是九位在跳舞的女士加上前八天的禮物;第十天是十位在跳躍的紳士加上前九天的禮物;第十一天是十一位吹笛手加上前十天的禮物;第十二天是十二個鼓手加上前十一天的禮物。算一算,這樣總共會送出364件禮物,而今年是這23年來最貴的一年,得要花美金$78,100才有辦法買齊這些禮物,去年只需要$75,122就可以買到,大概漲了4%。

  看到禮物單應該也猜得到漲價原因大概在哪,美金貶不停後,很多人都改抱黃金造成金價上漲,要送這麼多金戒指(一共送了八天,每天五只金戒指)難怪今年禮物成本貴這麼多,根據PNC的計算,今年五只金戒指要價$395,就比去年高了21.5%,不貴金戒指最貴的是在1989年,那年五只金戒指要$750。

  同時,擠牛奶的女僕會受惠於基本工資上漲,所以要請擠牛奶的女僕也變貴了,另外,PNC也預告2008跟2009只會更貴,因為國會已經批准了將來兩年基本工資可以繼續調漲。

  因為食物的售價上揚,所以可以當作食物的鵝也會變貴,那種沒有價值不能吃的鷓鴣、斑鳩等,倒是沒有影響。(我其實對這麼多鳥一點興趣也沒有,my true love還是折現給我吧,算現金價打個9折好了!)

有關PNC這個指數的細節,可以到這個網站 :
http://www.pncchristmaspriceindex.com/pressRelease.htm
PNC的這個網站還有提供教材,以The Twelve Days of Christmas為基礎,教導小朋友經濟學喔!
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