bash question

In this shell script:

> #!/bin/bash
> i=0
> 
> printf "a a a\nb b b\nc c c\n" |
> while read x
> do
>         i=$[i+1]
>         echo "$x: ($i)"
> done
> 
> echo $i

with this output:

> a a a: (1)
> b b b: (2)
> c c c: (3)
> 0

How to I can get the value (3) for $i out of the while loop?

Many thanks

-- 
Dario Lesca <d.lesca@xxxxxxxxxx>