10 April 2025 : Though the stock market is one of the most widely known reference point for detecting a recession, there are quite a few other indicators which are much more unconventional in nature, but may deliver surprisingly accurate results.
This discussion was initially sparked by Catherine De Noire, who is a manager of a legal brothel, a Ph.D. candidate in organizational psychology, as well as an influencer, who said that business at her brothel unexpectedly dipping is usually a sign that the economy is in trouble.
A list of unconventional economic indicators
The following is a list of unconventional economic indicators, according to a HuffPost report.
1) The brothel index
As noted by De Noire, declines in her brothel business is an early indicator that the economy is heading for a slump. On top of this, she also believes that she still faces the effects despite being based out of Europe due to the huge global influence the US has.
De Noire suggests this is because of people saving money or reallocating their spending toward things they find more essential, most likely because to prepare for challenges ahead.
2) The stripper index
Strippers are in many cases, the first to notice a downturn in the economy, according to the report. And this is because of the same reasons as to why the brothel index can work.
Summary: Beyond stock markets, quirky economic signals like the lipstick index, brothel visits, and underwear sales offer unconventional clues about looming recessions.