Beneficiaries of the Great Recession

Who were some of the unexpected beneficiaries of the Great Recession? In a post for Foreign Policy, economist Tyler Cowen points out a bunch of people who prospered during the downturn: Makeup companies like L’Oréal which saw a boost in sales (lipstick is often considered an economic indicator because it’s a small luxury women can afford in tough times); food trucks became more prevalent all across America as an option for interesting and affordable lunch options; an increase in diaper rash ointment sales, which indicates that parents may be buying cheaper quality diapers or changing diapers less often. One of the small luxuries I kept during my brief period of unemployment during the recession was buying good ground coffee, and yes, I visited plenty of food trucks too.

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