The Boxed Cake Index

Predicting recessions with consumer habits

You may have heard of the Big Mac Index — a model created by The Economist to compare Purchasing Power Parity between nations. By converting the pricing of a McDonald’s Big Mac in different countries to USD the model determines the relative purchasing power of the currency in that country. Although it may seem like a ridiculous method, it is actually quite an accurate economic tool.

Inspired by this model, I have come up with a way to accurately predict upcoming recessions. Introducing, the Boxed Cake Index.

The idea is simple: boxed cake is a cheap and easy way to improve the morale of a family, and thus consumers will purchase more of it as economic pain increases. This is not the case with other ‘comfort products’ like alcohol, because people are addicted to those and they’re depressants. Instead, boxed cake products are bought for the sole purpose of improving the moods of multiple people.

On second thought, this theory might be entirely wrong. Perhaps an increase in boxed cake purchasing indicates an economy that is doing well. Boxed cakes correlate to people celebrating, and they wouldn’t be celebrating if s**t was hitting the fan. Maybe I am extrapolating my own outlook toward boxed cake: that I’d only make and eat it in a desperate move to become happy…