Economic Indicators/Latisse

Like my mother, I say I'm reading history when what I'm really doing is reading old issues of the NY Times. Today's readings included two bell weathers of economic tidings. From February 5th, Vanity’s Downturn: Botox Use, and Allergan Sales, Dip reported that facial fillers were down 8.8%, breast implants were down 12%, and botox injections were down 3% for year over year quarterly sales. This is taken as a sure sign of a decrease in disposable income.

As someone who sense of style is notable by its absence, even more fascinating was learning that Allergan, whose main business is eye care pharmaceuticals, will be introducing Latisse an "eyelash growth drug". My immediate thought was that this might be the next Pretty Feet, the product which put Jerry Della Femina on the map. (A web search shows that the product, now known as Pretty Feet and Hands, is still on the market.) (The pro forma sarcastic comments are now inserted: Now in addition to worrying about the economy, health insurance, violence and locusts, women will also have to worry about the thickness of their lashes.)

And if you needed additional confirmation about the tragic state of the economy, there it was in black and white in today's NY Times: More Artworks Sell in Private in Slowdown. Private sales are increasing for a number of reasons. From the sellers side a private sale hides the seller's need for money and loss of face if an auctioned item gets not bids or if the selling price is low. Auction houses on the other hand charge less for private sales, but that is balanced by reducing expenses by avoiding price guarantees, advertising, insurance, and the logistics of shipping and storage.

It's a different world from my college days when a Personality Poster was all you needed to decorate your room. You knew the student had class and money if the poster was framed instead of just tacked to the wall. (Diverted by the thought, I stumbled around the web trying to locate the iconic W.C. Fields poster: "Never give a sucker an even break". It was offered for sale for $99 plus $6 shipping on ioffer.com. That the offer had no takers since November of 2008 indicates that it might be overpriced. maybe the poster is available in a store. Should real, traditional, you walk-in-the-door store now be preceded by the retronym: "brick and mortar"?)