Economy in toilet? Eat, drink and be happy

While a visit to a five-star restaurant might be out of the question, a nice bottle of wine at home?

Definitely.

In spite of, or maybe because of, tough economic times, many Americans "cling to" their smallest, most indulgent pleasures, according to Mintel, a company that tracks worldwide trends.

New research shows market sales for chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol - known as "sin stocks" - perform well during times of economic recession.

"Chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol again seem relatively recession-proof," said Marcia Mogelonsky, a Mintel senior analyst. "People might be cutting back or switching to store-brands, but they definitely aren't giving up their small daily indulgences."

Mogelonsky points out that most Americans can still afford chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol, no matter how much their finances have been cut

Retail sales for the chocolate market have grown 22 percent from 2002 to 2007 (to $16.3 billion). Motivated by high gas prices and expensive bar tabs, more Americans may be opting to drink at home. But that doesn't mean they're drinking less.

Research from Mintel shows the market for at-home alcohol is expected to reach $77.8 billion in 2008, a 32 percent increase from 2003. Mintel also expects both in-home and out-of-home alcohol sales to rise steadily in coming years.

"Because people are being so cautious with their spending, they feel they are entitled to small rewards and they won't give them up easily," Mogelonsky said.