The "lippie index"

Well we all know about the theory that there is a relationship between women's skirt length and the health of the economy - and maybe a similar relationship with the height of their heels (see 23/3/13).  But a new one on me is the idea that when the economy is in trouble, women tend to buy more lipstick.  It seems women like their beauty products, but when times are tough, they will look for the "maximum bangs for their buck" as it were, and lipstick gives them that.  John Lewis are reporting significantly increased sales and this is being seen as a sign of tighter economic times ahead.