BOOKIE BACKS CONDOM SALES TO RISE IN RECESSION WAGERS

- Paddy Power’s Credit Crunch Impact Betting -

As has been proven with the global credit crunch – what goes up must come down. Sales of Durex are increasing as couples turn to ‘home entertainment’ rather than a night on the tiles during these belt-tightening times. Or should that be belt-loosening?

Bookie Paddy Power is offering betting on the impact of the credit crunch with odds on the number of births in England and Wales, the sale of Durex as well as other home comforts such as pizza deliveries and dvd rentals.

SSL International, the manufacturer of Durex condoms reported that pre-tax profits for the six months to December rose by 46 percent to £32.5 million and Paddy Power make it just 1/5 for a further sales growth in 2009.

However this parental prudence may also be a result of couples delaying their plans to start a family until times are less hard and Paddy Power are predicting a fall in the number of births in England and Wales compared to 2008. Its 1/2 the number of births falls next year with 6/4 for a rise. 2007 saw 690,000 births and Paddy Power make the number of births in 2009 to be between 625,000 and 650,000 the 9/4 favourite.*  

Similarly it is 1/2 that stay-at-home women take credit crunch matters into their own hands with a rise in Ann Summers ‘Rampant Rabbits’, 4/5 that Pizza Hut report a 2009 increase in home deliveries and the same price that Blockbuster see an increase in dvd rentals.  

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “Are people cosying up with each other to beat the recession? With more and more people staying at home to curb their spending, it looks like they're opting for the old fashioned way of entertaining each other without the credit crunching cost of a child as an end result.

“And the betting suggests Durex sales will continue to rise but the number of births in 2009 will fall.”

Paddy Power’s Recession Wagers

Number of Live Births in England & Wales for 2009?

6/1        Under 600,000

10/3      600,000 - 625,000

9/4       625,001 - 650,000

3/1       650,001 - 675,000

4/1       675,001 - 700,000

9/2       Over 700,000

Will there be more live births in Eng & Wales for 2009 than 2008?

1/2        No

6/4        Yes

Durex Sales 09 v 08

1/5        Higher

3/1        Lower

Ann Summers’ Rampant Rabbit Sales 09 v 08

1/2        Higher

6/4        Lower

Pizza Hut Deliveries 09 v 08

4/5        Higher

10/11    Lower

Blockbuster DVD Rentals 09 v 08

4/5        Higher

10/11    Lower

* Figures according to Office of National Statistics