Sweets in sour times

Does talk of economic collapse push you to the refrigerator? Do discussions of freakishly large bonuses cause you to start stuffing your face? Today's New York Times weighs in on the idea that candy is the ultimate comfort food -- and it seems that with so much uncertainty surrounding us in the recession, we need all the comfort we can get.

The candy shop owners the Times interviewed have upped their orders considerably; one Chicago store has seen sales jump by 80 percent, and another in San Francisco reported it has tripled the usual orders for some products. The items showing the biggest leaps -- Mary Janes, Hershey's kisses, Snickers, Bit-o-Honeys, Sugar Babies and the like -- offer succor in a variety of ways. Nibblers can enjoy a feeling of childhood nostalgia (though hopefully not for the Great Depression, when many of the treats were gaining popularity), and a sense of sweet accomplishment for making it through another trying day. Candy is cheap, so except for some possible minor collateral damage to the waistline, there's little guilt involved (no one's kids are gonna go starving because Mom splurged on a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup). And don't ignore the transformational effects of the sugar high.

What has helped you get through these past few months -- candy? Pork obscenities like the Bacon Explosion? Dirty martinis? The Pink Slipped community wants to know…

--Posted by Todd Obolsky, Vault News & Commentary