F. Scott Fitzgerald said that the rich are different. The observation seems to hold in good and tough times alike.

Many lower down the income scale are still waiting for confirmation of an economic recovery before reopening their wallets. Affluent shoppers aren't. Sales growth for luxury-goods companies turned positive in the fourth quarter, outpacing most other retail products. That has boosted shares of luxury companies such as Switzerland's Compagnie Financiere Richemont, maker of Cartier, along with France's LVMH, owner of the Louis Vuitton brand.