Brother, Can You Spare a Rubber?

In times of economic decline, certain business prove recession-resistant. For example, McDonald's, Netflix, and thrift stores are experiencing increased sales in this time of broad economic contraction. Now add condoms to the list of products bucking the current financial trend.

The Nielsen Co. reports condoms sales in the U.S. rose 5 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, and 6 percent in January versus the same time periods the previous year, Charisse Jones writes in USA TODAY.

But why? Jones says more couples are nesting (staying home), which in turn can lead to more sex. She quotes Jim Daniels, vice president of marketing for Trojan: "If people don't have the money to go out to a fancy dinner or are looking to cut back, Trojan gives them some real affordable ways to stay in and make some great memories together."

Historically, of course, the populace often responds to its threatened existence through copulation writ large. (What better way to confront pending mortality than ensuring your genes live on?) Since our current panic is financial, however, the copulation instinct is being checkmated through contraception. In other words: Make Love, Not Babies.