Sales of lingerie have increased in spite of the downturn in the retail industry, suggesting the recession has led more couples to replace expensive nights out with more intimate evenings at home. .

Data from TNS Worldpanel fashion, a retail research group, show that sales of underwired bras increased 10 per cent over the first half of the year in Britain and the push up bra market has increased from £47.7m ($78m) to £80m in the past two years.