A new survey from Visa claims that the Tooth Fairy now leaves an average of $3 per tooth, up from $2.60 in 2011.

That’s an increase of 15 percent over 2011 (at least somebody’s getting a raise). Perhaps it’s also a good sign for the economy, in Fairyland if not the U.S. Jason Alderman, Visa’s senior director of global financial education, presented the findings on Tuesday in conjunction with the release of a new mobile app aimed at helping parents determine how much to leave beneath the pillow for each primary tooth their child loses.

“The Tooth Fairy may be the canary in the economic coal mine,” Alderman said in a statement. “She’s showing signs of life by leaving 40 cents more per tooth this year. This is not only good news for kids, but an ideal teachable moment for parents to engage their children in thinking about how to budget their windfall by saving a portion.”

Visa’s new mobile app and online calculator recommends an appropriate amount to leave for each tooth, based on Visa's survey data and factors such as gender, age, home state, income and education levels to formulate how much money the Tooth Fairy is leaving in comparable households (just so children get to enjoy bragging rights in school this fall).

The app is available for iPhones and iPads at the iTunes Store, while the calculator is available at www.PracticalMoneySkills.com/ToothFairy.