While businesses across the board have cried poor since the economy nosedived last autumn, there appears to be one industry that has surged — erotic accessories.

A recent report by Information Resources Inc. found that first-quarter sales of personal lubricants increased 32 percent up to $41.2 million, and sales of sexual-enhancement devices jumped a startling 74 percent to $10.1 million for the period ending on April 19.

Products marketed by Church & Dwight (Trojan and Durex) and Johnson & Johnson (K-Y Yours & Mine lubes and K-Y Intense — the first mass-marketed female arousal gel) are now showcased in end-aisle displays at grocery, drug and department stores, including Wal-Mart.

Church & Dwight's own research reveals that sales of sexual enhancement devices (including Trojan Vibrating Touch) are actually a billion dollar business in the U.S.

In seven states, where it's illegal to sell certain erotic items — such as vibrators — online sales by direct sellers have soared. Walgreens's Web site now offers a Sexual Wellness tab that includes romance-themed costumes, games, massage oils and the Emotional Bliss Fem-blossom vibrator.

The lube manufacturer, Wet, reported that sales this year rose by 30 percent and the company has since automated its factories in order to keep up with demand.

"I have definitely seen sales increase since December — tripled, in fact," says Karen Cavagnuolo, owner of the New Haven-based bedroombuzz.com and executive director of Passion Parties, a direct sales company based in Las Vegas that caters to a female clientele. "Team sales for last year was $100,000, and last month we hit that mark already!"

Cavagnuolo currently manages 78 women who host parties at private homes where erotic products and techniques are demonstrated and sold to guests eager to learn and spend cash on vibrators, dildos, edible creams, gels and other sundries.

Nationwide, the company hosts more than 128,000 parties a year, reaching more than 1.2 million women. Small towns and rural locations produce the highest sales, helping to earn Passion Parties $100 million dollars last year, alone.

"The parties are free and account for 95 percent of product sales," says Cavagnuolo. "Our best-selling product is Pure Satisfaction gel, which kicks up the intensity of orgasms."

Cavagnuolo says that women of every age group and ethnicity purchase erotic products and, lately, she has received numerous inquires from men wanting to get involved in the business.

"I have three guys on my team now who do co-ed parties, but generally women are more comfortable with other women," she says.

Maybe that's why the male proprietor of Naughty Nancy's, in Norwalk, has reported that sales at his store have tanked along with the economy.

Juan Jeffrey, manager of VIP in Hartford says that having lots of women on staff helps increase sales. The i-Vibe Rabbit is the hottest selling product at his store over recent months. After the vibrator was endorsed by a character on "Sex and the City," the company's sales exploded.

"Our lingerie department is booming," says Megan Gigola, who runs the stock room at VIP's Orange store. "I can't tell you by how much sales have increased but I can say that we have not been hurt at all by the economy."

D'jun Paulk who works at Love Shack with locations in Bridgeport, Branford, Derby and Norwalk, says his biggest market is the gay community.

"Gay men and women spend more than heterosexuals," says Paulk. "Moist is the top selling product for men along with anal plugs and anal deads. Women buy strap-ons, double-sided dildos, sex swings and pillows that form different shapes. Lesbians make up more than half of our customers. Gay and bisexual women are not afraid to buy these type of products. I'd say sales are up by about 10 percent this year."

Bookends 2, located in Enfield, is the second-oldest porn shop in the country, according to its owner, Jeff Van.

"We have more men come in at night and women during the day," says Van. "Lubes sales are up and the i-Vibe Rabbit is our number-one seller."

Van says sales of all products are up by 10 percent this year and attributes it directly to the economy.

"Instead of going out to a movie, people are renting them," he says. "We do a lot of video rental and sales and I believe that because people aren't taking vacations, it drives them to spend more money on pleasure."

... Play-cations?

In Westport, Sandra Mejia quit her day job to open a branch of Passion Parties (passionpartiesbysandra.com) in Martha Stewart's old neighborhood. She says that since the beginning of the year, sales are flourishing.

"My phone has been ringing like crazy," she says. "I've been doing two or three parties a week — which is considered full time. I'd say sales have increased by 70 percent, probably because women don't like going into adult stores and asking a man or a 20-year-old personal questions."

Mejia says that her parties include a lot of sex education. She adds that another marketing tool is that the company's exclusive line of products are sold and mailed in discreet packaging.

"Everyone has a romantic life and if you don't have a partner, we have products to satisfy you alone," she says. "If you're more conservative, we have a line of relaxation products."

Mejia says that since people have lost their jobs, she has had a lot of inquires about joining her business.

"With the economy so bad, people aren't going out to restaurants — they are staying home and having sex," she concludes.

Since the economy has soured, the erotic accessories business has never been sweeter.