We've all heard escorts complain about a downturn is client visits, both on threads here and to some of us who know certain of them better. So I decided to do some statistical research comparing the number of reviews submitted for the first 6 months of 2008 compared to the same time period last year. The logical assumption being, that there would be a corrolation between the number of reviews and general punting activity. The following statistics for reviews is rather interesting:


2008 2007

January 205 69
February 315 88
March 349 + 107 Rats 91
April 305 + 7 Rats 119
May 357 + 22 Rats 139
June 276 + 3 Rats 151

Notes: I have not included N/As as these generally denote that a punt did not take place.
I have not included 19 old reviews (Fendi) in the figures for June 2008 or 17 old
reviews in the figures for May 2007.

As you can see, a look at the figures, only throws up more questions than it answers. If the recession is really affecting this business, than it has only begun to do so in the past month. But there are a number of other possible explanations:

1. Punter activity is indeed growing, but so are the number of escorts, so the number of
punts per escort may be declining. The reason for an increase in the level of punter
activity is more likely to be an increase in the number of punters rather than increase
in individual levels of activity. Increasing membership is an indication of this.

2. Punters now feel more confident in writing reviews, and therefore a punt is more likely
to result in some type of review than previously.

3. The problem with the rats and bogus reviews, could be much greater than anticipated.
Increased competition amongst individual escorts and agencies during a recession
would explain this.

4. Sex is not affected by a recession. We try to shag and drink our way out of it. Only
death puts a stop to these activites.

Gentlemen, your opinions please.