Sex in the recession

"With a crippled economy forcing millions of cash-strapped Americans to entertain themselves at home," said Charisse Jones in USA Today, "it's not surprising that one particular product is seeing a sales increase—condoms." A relatively inexpensive form of birth control, condoms are especially popular in tough times when struggling couples want to avoid "having more mouths to feed."

"That makes sense," said William Saletan in Slate. "Make love, not reservations." It's encouraging to think that, "when times are tough, people become increasingly rational and careful about limiting their financial commitments"—in this case, offspring. But it's troubling to think of people switching from more foolproof methods of birth control to condoms, which can lead to pregnancy with "one screw-up."

Some couples don't have to worry too much about birth control, said The Daily Beast. About a third of Americans, according to a Daily Beast poll conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland, said they're likely to go on fewer dates and spend less because of the recession. Those who make less than $75,000 a year said they think they'll have less sex in 2009 than in 2008, which suggests "that the credit freeze is becoming the sex freeze."

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