lipstick sales are up but data does not support it

I found today's article in The Times about the rise of lipstick sales during economic downturn interesting. First, according to this same article sales statistics don't support this theory and actually show that lipstick sales are down. Second, the article appeared to be an obvious result of a pitch from Estee's PR Camp. But hey - congrats to them for placing a story with no data to support it. I used this same pitch for a Cigar client once and did not have nearly as much luck. On a side note,I have felt the sting of the escalating cost of designer clothes like everyone else - but my philosophy is to skip the make-up and save the money for clothes. Department store lipsticks are around $40, combine that with a lip pencil -it is $60. For a few of these I could buy a dress at CO-OP or a designer shirt on sale.