The Index of Odd Economic Indicators

A collection of odd economic indicators from the BBC and the L.A. Times :The crane index. How many cranes are visible from a given point. Really a measure of optimism about the prospects for commercial property.

• The number of people signing up to dating agencies offering extra-marital affairs, on the basis that demand goes up either in times of excessive confidence - “I won’t get caught”; or depression - “I don’t care”. (Sex had to figure somewhere.)

• The Dry Baltic Index. A measure of demand for shipping. Since it takes two years to build a container ship, freight capacity is inflexible, so small changes in demand can cause marked changes in price.

• The Popcorn Index. Sales of popcorn at the cinema are, it was suggested in a newspaper recently, a sensitive barometer of consumer behaviour.
The baked bean index - my colleague Anthony Reuben noted in the spring how the value of sales of baked beans - a classic recession food - had risen 21.6% in April compared with the same month last year. Could a reverse signal the start of a recovery?

• According to FilmL.A., the nonprofit organization that coordinates on-location shooting in the city, no permits have been issued in 2009 for car commercials. Although commercial production in the city is flagging anyway—down 34% in the first quarter—the 100% drop in tunnel permits suggests “very tough times in the car business,” FilmL.A. spokesman Todd Lindgren said.