Christmas is biggest day of the year for condoms

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Christmas is biggest day of the year for condoms

Toys aren’t the only things that enjoy a boost in sales during the holiday season.

It turns out that on Christmas, sales of condoms also hit a yearly high.

According to a study by the convenience store chain 7-Eleven, condom sales last year were 2.5 times higher on Christmas than on an average day. Christmas Eve was the second-biggest sales day of the year, with twice as many sales as usual, and Buddha’s Birthday in May came in third. Overall, December is the biggest month for condom sales, according to the study.

Assuming the monthly average sales of condoms is 100, December condom sales reach 108.6. August had the second-highest demand for condoms, at 106.8. June and July also reported higher than average sales. March saw the lowest sales.

The study by 7-Eleven also showed that prophylactic sales have increased this year. Sales made at convenience stores from Jan. 1 and to Dec. 21 were up 31.1 percent compared to the same period in 2013.

Interestingly, this year saw an increase in condom purchases made by teenagers and women. In 2012, teenagers accounted for 0.3 percent of all buyers. That figure increased to 0.5 percent last year and expanded further to 0.6 percent this year.

As more women actively obtain condoms, the portion of female buyers has gone up from 17.5 percent in 2012 and 16.8 percent in 2013 to 23.5 percent so far this year.

“It seems that condom sales have gone up as the importance of contraception has gone up because more people are concerned about premarital pregnancy and want to avoid getting pregnant,” said Kim Tae-bong, a medical doctor for 7-Eleven.

But the majority of condom buyers are men in their 30s and 40s, accounting for nearly 40 percent. Sales of cheap condoms that cost 5,000 won ($4.50) or less were the best-sellers, taking up 64.2 percent of overall sales.

BY CHAE YOON-KYUNG [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]

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