每次说到经济发展状况，大家会立马想到一堆堆的数据和图表。不过最近有研究人员表示，观察经济形势其实也可以很简单，看看女士们的鞋跟高度就可以了。鞋跟越高表明经济形势越好，他们管这个叫“鞋跟指数”。

Researchers have charted the average heel height of shoes women buy and the strength of the economy since 2008.

研究人员自2008年起就开始记录女性购买鞋子的平均鞋跟高度和经济发展状况。

They say demand for super-high heels soars in a strong economy but switches to sensible, lower shoes when times are tough.

他们表示，经济发展强劲时期，超高跟鞋的需求量会猛增；而经济不景气时，需求则转向鞋跟高度相对正常、鞋跟偏低的鞋子。

It is called heel index where high heels represent a carefree attitude, and when times are tough, we crave stability and switch to lower heels.

这种情况叫做鞋跟指数，高跟鞋代表无忧无虑的态度；而时势艰难的时候，人们都渴望稳定，于是把目光投向低跟鞋。

Recently, researchers have seen this reflected in customers shopping habits with flat shoe sales up 25 percent year on year, suggesting that the current mood is stoic and conservative. (Source: dailymail.co.uk)

研究人员发现近期消费者的消费习惯反应了当前的鞋跟指数，平底鞋的销量比上年增加了25%，说明消费者目前的状态是保守且低调的。