men's underwear index

{{Short description|Men's underwear index can indicate economic recovery after a slump.}}

The men's underwear index (MUI) is an economic index that can supposedly detect the beginnings of a recovery during an economic slump. The premise is that men's underwear are a necessity in normal economic times and sales remain stable. During a severe downturn, demand for these goods changes as new purchases are deferred.{{cite news|last=Mui|first=Ylan Q.|title=Blue Chip, White Cotton: What Underwear Says About the Economy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/30/AR2009083002761.html|accessdate=1 February 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=31 August 2009}} Hence, men's purchasing habits for underwear (and that of their spouses on their behalf) is thought to be a good indicator of discretionary spending for consumption at large especially during turnaround periods.

This indicator is noted for being followed by former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.{{cite news|last=Brush|first=Michael|title=How your undies track the recession|url=http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/how-your-undies-track-the-recession.aspx|accessdate=1 February 2011|newspaper=MSN Money|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302061931/http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/CompanyFocus/how-your-undies-track-the-recession.aspx|archive-date=2 March 2011|url-status=dead}}