133 | The Labubu economy

Labubus are the current collecting craze. People are lining up outside stores, reselling online, and coveting rare specimens. It's moving a lot of money around the world. $7K worth of Labubu dolls stolen from Los Angeles store, authorities say (AP, Aug 9, 2025) 'Labubu' is a plush toy that is causing a frenzy. Here's its origin story (Juliana Kim, All Things Considered / NPR, Jun 18, 2025) Adorable or just weird? How Labubu dolls conquered the world (Fan Wang and Adam Hancock, BBC News, Jun 19, 2025) Trading Standards issue a warning to parents that potentially dangerous counterfeit Labubu dolls are being sold in the area (Trading Standards, Aug 8, 2025) The Confused Aunt's Guide to Labubu (Liza Corsillo, The Strategist, Jun 12, 2025) Labubu craze could spell doom for the economy, expert warns (Gabrielle Fahmy, New York Post, Aug 9, 2025) Sacramento State economics professor makes sense of Labubu doll trend (Lisa Gonzales, KCRA / MSN, Aug 6, 2025) The End of the Lipstick Index (Daniela Morosini, BoF, May 19, 2025) Collecting: An Urge That's Hard to Resist (Shirley M. Mueller, Psychology Today, Oct 29, 2020) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast [email protected]