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There are many ways to measure where we are in the economic cycle. GDP, unemployment numbers, housing starts, hot waitresses.
"The hotter the waitresses, the weaker the economy," Hugo Lindgren writes in New York Magazine. He has developed the Hot Waitress Index, under the theory that attractive people land great jobs in sales...when there are jobs in sales. When the economy contracts, they trade down to waiting tables.
Lindgren spoke to one waitress at a club on the Lower East Side, who told him, "They slowly let the boys go, then the less attractive girls, and then these hot girls appeared out of nowhere." But he also points out that hotness only goes so far. "Rare indeed is the waitress who is so smoking that customers don't mind when she drops a glass of Cabernet into their laps."
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Lindgren claims the Hot Waitress Index is actually a leading indicator, unlike the rest of unemployment.
Hot people will migrate back to better jobs sooner than not-so-hot auto workers.
So when you see the hot waitress go, it's time to feel good, not bad.
The economy is rebounding.
CNBC.com Slideshow: Eleven Surprising Stock Market Indicators
Finally, Lindgren points out other indices apart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which measure economic ups and down: The Overeducated Cabbie Index and, my favorite, The Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls Index- "within 24 hours, you're in a recession; if they call you without prompting, that's a depression."
Funny Business Poll
Which is your favorite economic indicator?
Hot Waitress Index
Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls
Mall Parking Lot Index
Dollar Menu Expansion Index
How Long is Jane Waiting to Touch Up her Dye Job Index
Vote to see results
Funny Business Poll
Which is your favorite economic indicator? * 154 responses
Hot Waitress Index
44%
Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls
24%
Mall Parking Lot Index
20%
Dollar Menu Expansion Index
3.9%
How Long is Jane Waiting to Touch Up her Dye Job Index
7.8%
Not a scientific survey.
"The hotter the waitresses, the weaker the economy," Hugo Lindgren writes in New York Magazine. He has developed the Hot Waitress Index, under the theory that attractive people land great jobs in sales...when there are jobs in sales. When the economy contracts, they trade down to waiting tables.
Lindgren spoke to one waitress at a club on the Lower East Side, who told him, "They slowly let the boys go, then the less attractive girls, and then these hot girls appeared out of nowhere." But he also points out that hotness only goes so far. "Rare indeed is the waitress who is so smoking that customers don't mind when she drops a glass of Cabernet into their laps."
The 'New' Economy
Scandinavians Make Best Husbands?
What's Your Fiscal Attraction?
The Mother-in-Law Test
Lindgren claims the Hot Waitress Index is actually a leading indicator, unlike the rest of unemployment.
Hot people will migrate back to better jobs sooner than not-so-hot auto workers.
So when you see the hot waitress go, it's time to feel good, not bad.
The economy is rebounding.
CNBC.com Slideshow: Eleven Surprising Stock Market Indicators
Finally, Lindgren points out other indices apart from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which measure economic ups and down: The Overeducated Cabbie Index and, my favorite, The Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls Index- "within 24 hours, you're in a recession; if they call you without prompting, that's a depression."
Funny Business Poll
Which is your favorite economic indicator?
Hot Waitress Index
Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls
Mall Parking Lot Index
Dollar Menu Expansion Index
How Long is Jane Waiting to Touch Up her Dye Job Index
Vote to see results
Funny Business Poll
Which is your favorite economic indicator? * 154 responses
Hot Waitress Index
44%
Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls
24%
Mall Parking Lot Index
20%
Dollar Menu Expansion Index
3.9%
How Long is Jane Waiting to Touch Up her Dye Job Index
7.8%
Not a scientific survey.
