Lipstick index
Cosmetics prices +1.4% a year, last good reading Sep 2026. Cosmetics prices vs a year ago. Lipstick index and the other weird recession indicators are on one page, each with its latest reading.
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The BLS consumer price index for cosmetics, perfume, bath and nail products (FRED series CUUR0000SEGB02), US city average, not seasonally adjusted. It measures prices, not sales.
The "lipstick index" is folklore: Leonard Lauder said lipstick sells better when money is tight. Shown for fun, with no claim either way.
Source: FRED. Last good reading Sep 2026.