Bang up-to-date market trends from today’s Sunday Times magazine (I’m part of one of these trends – can you guess which one?):
> We’re rediscovering the great British holiday camp: Butlins’ bookings are up 15% on last year
> We’re relishing good old-fashioned comfort food: Bird’s custard powder sales are up 17% and Fray Bentos steak-and-mushroom pies 42%
> We’re turning to the bottle less: beer sales for the first quarter of 2009 are down 8.2%
> We’re buying fewer cars, and keeping our old ones going for longer: car sales are
down 24% and spending on spare parts is up 35%
> We’re developing a sweeter tooth: we spent £2.6 billion on sweets and sugary snacks from October to December 2008, an 8.1% increase
> We’re looking for love: the online dating site Match.com has seen a 35% increase in new sign-ups
> We’re enjoying escapism: cinema attendance figures are up 7.5%
> We’re craving culture: over the second quarter of this year, takings from London plays were up 29%
> We’re staying in: the online DVD rental company Lovefilm.com has seen its membership increase by 20% over the past six months
> We’re bargain-seeking: sales at Oxfam shops were up 5% in 2008 from 2007
> We’re being inventive: Durex Play range, which includes lubricants and sex toys, is up 17.1%