The Lipstick index from NY Times

Pulse - Frown Fighters - Caption - NYTimes.com: "...the Lipstick Index — that frivolous financial barometer that says cosmetics sales rise in direct relation to free-falling finances — has jumped."From The Business Sheet: "The gist is that women couldn't afford luxuries in the depression but wanted to buy something to treat themselves. Something small, cheap, and with a big impact. Lipstick.