London - Couples looking to save money in the economic gloom have rediscovered that the best things in life are free.
Figures suggest love is lighting up bedrooms across the nation as we look for cheaper ways to keep ourselves entertained.
And experts believe the knock-on could be a mini baby boom.
According to relationship counsellors, many couples become closer in the face of financial pressures and this improves their sex life.
They tend to stay in more, perhaps enjoying a romantic meal and an “early night”.
Dr Pam Scurr, relationship counsellor and author of Steamy Sex, said: “Those who are managing recession stresses and strains and have to tighten their belts tend to spend more time at home.
“They enjoy their time together and this certainly has implications in the bedroom. It’s definitely the case for those who are managing the extra stresses we are facing now.
“But it’s not true for all couples. Some people who have split up are still living under the same roof as they can’t afford to move out and they certainly won’t be getting amorous.”
Experts say that despite the costs of having children, women who have recently been made redundant often decide that now is the time to have a baby.
To back up the claims of increased bedroom activity, experts point to the soaring sales of pregnancy testing kits and a drop in the number of condoms sold.
Historical evidence shows that recessions often trigger mini baby booms. In 1979, for example, the year of the Winter of Discontent when much of Britain ground to a halt through strikes, the average number of children per woman jumped from 1.84 to 1.88.
Over the last two years sales of pregnancy testing kits at Tesco have gone up by 31 percent with almost 3.5million sold in 2010.
Meanwhile, the number of condoms bought has fallen by 2.6 percent in the last year, according to data from IRI, which tracks retail sales figures.
Joy Wickham, pharmacy buyer at Tesco, said: “The present recession has forced a tightening of the purse strings but while people may not have had as much money for little luxuries like going out to restaurants and the theatre it seems to have led them to seek pleasures elsewhere.
“The sales appear to be related to the state of the economy as they started to rise just after the recession started in 2008 and carried on into 2009.”
Other figures suggest the number of women getting pregnant has increased.
Several pharmacies including Tesco and Asda have also reported increased sales of folic acid - taken during pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects.
Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics show the number of babies born is already increasing in the economic slowdown.
The birth rate rose from 12.5 per 1,000 women in April 2008 to 12.7 per 1,000 in June 2009 when Britain was officially in recession.
Last year Marks & Spencer reported that sales of baby toys and food had increased by up to 60 percent.
The National Childbirth Trust also said that demand for antenatal classes had gone up by 16 percent in 2010. - Daily Mail