According to a recent study published Friday, the 2008 laughing index has jumped 4% in the last 12 months, which is not good news for the already weakened dollar. The index, a cumulative measure of 16 humor indicators tracks, among other things:

The cost of a single issue of Mad magazine
The wholesale prices of rubber chickens
The cost of admission to comedy clubs in 10 major U.S. cities

From the press release:

America’s reputation as a humor superpower is in jeopardy, says Kushner. “Humor is the one thing Japan never beat us at,” he observes. “But that could change if we keep paying bigger bucks for smaller yucks.

Fortunately, alternative gag experiments are now underway: fake vomit made from ethanol and a solar-powered hand buzzer. “And there will be lots of free humor from the candidates in this presidential election year,” notes Kushner…

Not to poke holes in the findings of this study, but all of our wholesale prices for the chickens, glasses, and whoopee cushions are significantly cheaper than those referenced from Franco. We have sent Malcom an email suggesting that, perhaps next years prices can be taken from multiple novelty companies in order for the index to be a more accurate, weighted average. You know, like the s&p 500.

All kidding aside, it is a very funny article if you have a minute.