We seem to live by acronyms and every industry has their own unique, well-known ones. While someone outside our industry would most likely not recognize what GA, EIMA or AWCI stand for, we know right away. Some acronyms may seem strange, like MUI but allow me to introduce its relevance. The MUI acronym is important to some major manufacturers, which may seem odd as the letters MUI stand for: Men’s Underwear Index. Before you give up on this article—and you won’t want to—there is a reason the MUI is considered an important indicator of the economy.
The reasoning is that men view underwear as a necessity item and not as a luxury. Even as the economy fluctuates, men’s underwear sales typically remain fairly constant, except during extreme economic downturns, when men put off buying new underwear. Conversely, when sales pick up sharply, it is an indicator that the economy is improving. If you think this is nonsense, consider that many major manufacturers use the MUI to assist them in decisions on marketing budgets. It is also rumored that Alan Greenspan would routinely monitor the MUI.