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Which unusual sign has historically been associated with an economic boom nearing its peak?
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Lipstick sales suddenly rising
241 votes (20.7%)
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Restaurant bookings falling
283 votes (24.3%)
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Record-breaking skyscrapers being built
484 votes (41.6%)
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Men buying more underwear
155 votes (13.3%)
Total votes: 1,163
Answer: C – Record-breaking skyscrapers being built.
Explanation: It’s known as the Skyscraper Index.
The idea, popularised by property analyst Andrew Lawrence in 1999, is that plans for record-breaking buildings tend to emerge during periods of abundant credit, soaring property values and extreme confidence — precisely the conditions that can accompany the final stages of a boom.
Famous examples include New York’s skyscraper race around the 1929 crash and the Burj Khalifa, conceived during Dubai’s boom before the global financial crisis.