Sex toy sellers in New York say sales are on the rise despite the tough economic times.

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Sam Bard, 36, who co-founded a sex toy store called Shag in December, said she believes the recession actually has helped her business grow, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

"Each month's been better than the last," she said. "More couples are staying at home to save money, so rather (than) spending $150 on a one-time dinner, they will spend the same amount for toys that will continue to be used indefinitely."

Meanwhile, online retailer Amazon.com, which launched its Sexual Wellness store in 2003 with 338 items, said it now offers 60,000 items that are popular with customers.

"We've seen this category grow pretty significantly over the last couple of years," spokeswoman Charmaine Diploa said.