What Sells in a Recession?

Sean Gregory writes in Time Magazine:

What's last thing people want in a recession? More kids, apparently. According to data-tracking firm the Nielsen Company, dollar sales of products in the "family planning" category, which includes condoms and over-the-counter female contraceptives, are up 10.2% for the first two months of this year. Unit sales are up 1.5%, which indicates the consumers are willing to pay higher prices today to prevent crib expenses tomorrow.