Hot in recession: Chocolate, running shoes, Spam

news.yahoo.com ^ | 29 mins ago | DEB RIECHMANN

[JoeProBono]

WASHINGTON – It's not all doom and gloom in the U.S. economy. Some products are bucking the recession and flying off store shelves. Sales of chocolate and running shoes are up. Wine drinkers haven't stopped sipping; they just seem to be choosing cheaper vintages. Gold coins are selling like hot cakes. So are gardening seeds. Tanning products are piling up in shopping carts; maybe more people are finding color in a bottle than from sun-worshipping on a faraway beach. Strong sales of Spam, Dinty Moore stew and chili helped Hormel Foods Corp. post a 6 percent increase in first quarter sales in its grocery products unit. Consumers have trimmed household budgets and postponed buying cars, major appliances and other big-ticket items. Yet they still are willing to shell out for small indulgences and goods that make life more comfortable at home, where they are spending more time. Recession shoppers also are drawn to items that make them feel safe, both personally and financially.

[JoeProBono]

[Artemis Webb]

already posted here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2252251/posts

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

Thanks!

[Le Chien Rouge]

Also Hot:

1) Guns
2) Business cards
3) Hooters
4) Auto repair shops
5) Toner recycling

[mysterio]

I tried spam once. Actually liked it pretty well. I think I like wine and chocolate more, though.

[JoeProBono]

Chocolate running shoes

[Cincinna]

*** FRENCH POLITICS AND CULTURE PING LIST *** FREEPMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO JOIN ***

If there is a PHILATELIC LIST , PLEASE COPY.

FRANCE ISSUES STAMP SERIES HONORING HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE!

In France, chocolate making, and chocolate eating are part of the French culture; the French call it "patrimoine". The French make some of the world's most delicious, and beautiful chocolates.

The French Post Office will issue a series of stamps honoring Choclate, and the makers of chocolate. The date of issue is May 25, for any interested FReeper stamp collectors.

[mysterio]

Never though I’d eat a shoe, but I could always reconsider, lol.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[jla]

[Cincinna]

Thanks for posting the beautiful poster.

[M. Espinola]

Those commemorative stamps look edible!

[RichInOC]

But I don’t like Spam!

[listenhillary]

From the article “Condom sales up 5%” Somebody is getting scr*wed...

[JoeProBono]

UMMmmmmm SPAM!

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[Clemenza]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t Jewish refugees (from the inquisition in Spain) in the city of Bayonne (that’s France, not New Jersey) responsible for popularizing chocolate in France?