What people buy when times get tough

[jeffrey]

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....

Recession items: Chocolate, shoes, Spam - USATODAY.com

[disneysteve]

I also think people have shifted where they shop. We were at the outlet stores on Saturday and they were very busy. Lots of people looking for bargains. And plenty of folks carrying bags, so they are buying, not just browsing. Of course, there was also a line down the block to get into the Coach outlet, so not everyone is cutting back.

[DayByDay]

What the article fails to mention about Hershey Co. and its profits:
Town sees nothing sweet in chocolate plant closing - Los Angeles Times

[rob62521]

Everything goes in cycles...a few years back people were nesting because of the economy and once things improved, they were out and about spending money like they had it.