We're always looking for signs the U.S. economy might be improving, so why not check in with the tooth fairy? Conventional wisdom might conclude if the tooth fairy starts leaving more money for lost baby teeth, the economy should be doing better.
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Delta Dental is out with its annual Tooth Fairy Poll, and it showed the average amount left under children's pillow was up to $2.42 in 2012, up 15% from 2011.
"I'm happy to say that the Tooth Fairy delivered encouraging news about country's economic recovery in 2012," said Bill Hupp, a spokesperson for Delta Dental Plans Association.
And, there might be something to the that theory. The tooth fairy index has correlated with the S&P 500 in nine of the past ten years.
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The most common amount children receive under their pillow is $1. Children losing teeth for the first time usually receive $3.49 on average, and 22%of children receive the jackpot of $5 for each tooth.