The recession might be curtailing our lifestyles in many ways but it seems that sexual activity is on the rise.
We heard last week how the BPAS was dishing out free emergency contraception for the festive season. And now I read that sales of condoms climbed to a new peak in the six months to September this year.
(Slight pause while I consider whether to continue with the onslaught of crude wordplays...)
Durex reported sales reaching a crescendo of £105m, up 7 per cent on the same period last year. So what's fuelling the surge in demand?
My theory is that the dreadful summer weather, coupled with reduced spending power, forced people to spend more time indoors and seek alternative entertainment.
There is also generally less to do indoors because people can't afford DIY products. This is borne out in the latest results from Topps Tiles, where revenues have fallen off a cliff.
And while some people have turned to cheap and cheerful sexual activity to help beat the credit crunch blues, and keep warm, others will have been taking a 'belt and braces' approach to their sex lives to ensure they definitely don't have any more mouths to feed during tough times.
But one thing still perturbs me. How can a company that sells condoms and sex toys also produce wooden sandals with the mission of enabling ‘people across the globe to enjoy healthier, more comfortable and better-looking feet'?