Thursday, Jul 3, 2008    Text size: 

According to the Adult Internet Market Research Company (AIMRCo), many adult websites have enjoyed increased sales since economic stimulus checks began appearing in Americans' mailboxes.

"Many of the sites we surveyed have reported a 20-30 percent growth in membership rates since mid-May when the checks were first sent out," Kirk Mishkin, head research consultant for AIMRCo, said. "Typically the summer is a slow period for this market."

Bush's economic stimulus plan gives taxpaying individuals a rebate check for up to $600 (or $1200 for married couples) in an effort to increase consumer spending and thus help boost the economy.

"In a June 15, 2008 survey to our members, thirty two percent of respondents referenced the recent stimulus package as part of their decision to either become a new member, or renew an existing membership," Jillian Fox, spokeswoman for LSGmodels.com, one of the sites reporting figures to AIMRCo, said. "Getting more people to buy porn was probably the last thing Bush had on his mind when he came up with his 'stimulus package,' but we'll take it."

According to AIMRCo, the survey data was collected from its network of more than 400 paysites and 2000 affiliates/traffic trading sites.

Other adult operators are also crediting the tax rebates with increased sales.

"In yet another example of a Bush stimulus check in action, we are seeing a huge spike in the number of over $500 orders in June and into July," Titan Media VP Keith Webb told XBIZ. "We did a direct mail piece to our 30,000-plus mail order customers giving them a 10 percent off coupon to push them to shop online. That combined with the stimulus checks seems to be working."

Any benefits to the industry may be short-lived, however, as Democrats poised to retake the White House are calling for a reversal of President Bush's tax cuts, as well as further increases in the taxes of working Americans — a doubly poor situation for the industry.