'Lipstick Index' Glosses Over Spotty Data
One theory holds that sales of lipstick go up during a recession. After all, it's a relatively affordable luxury in times of low consumer confidence. But The Economist magazine takes a swipe at the notion, noting in a recent article that historical data are spotty. There's another reason why the "lipstick index" is suspect: The term was coined by an executive at the cosmetics firm Estee Lauder.
Copyright © 2009 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required.
LINDA WERTHEIMER, host:
The theory that lipstick sales go up in a recession does have its believers. But our last word in business today is gloss-over. There may be some evidence that low consumer confidence sparks a rise in sales of this relatively affordable luxury, but "The Economist" magazine takes a swipe at that notion. A recent article says historical data is spotty. The theory may also be wishful thinking. The term lipstick index was coined by an executive at the cosmetics company Estee Lauder. That's the business news on Morning Edition, from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.
RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
And I'm Renee Montagne.
Copyright © 2009 National Public Radio®. All rights reserved. No quotes from the materials contained herein may be used in any media without attribution to National Public Radio. This transcript is provided for personal, noncommercial use only, pursuant to our Terms of Use. Any other use requires NPR's prior permission. Visit our permissions page for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio.
Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.