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Men's Skivvy Sales Spell More Trouble

Stimulus package or not, underwear metric indicates downturn

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 9, 2009 9:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – More bad news, this time from the men’s underwear department. One of former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan’s favorite metrics for predicting changes in consumer spending was the sales of men’s skivvies, the Huffington Post reports. It seems that sales are projected to decline 2.3% this year, revised down from a previous forecast of 2.6% growth.

On the plus side, the sales of briefs, as opposed to boxers, are projected to rise this year by 0.6%. But after 2 years of 3% or better growth, even that market is dipping, indicating a recession psychology that dictates spending only on necessary items. “They tend to be later going into the recession and earlier coming back,” said one exec. “Men certainly aren't wearing underwear less frequently than before."

[Images (2)]

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A model presents a creation by Calvin Klein Underwear at the Macy's Passport 05 at the Herbst & Festival Pavilions on September 22, 2005 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)

A model walks down the runway at the 22nd annual Macy's Passport 2004 Evolution Revolution at Fort Mason Center September 23, 2004 in San Francisco, California. The annual fashion event has raised over... (Getty Images)

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If you look at sales of male underpants it's just pretty much a flat line, it hardly ever changes. But on those few occasions where it dips that means that men are so pinched that they are deciding not to replace underpants.
- Robert Krulwich, author and NPR host

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Men's Skivvy Sales Spell More Trouble