I turn on the TV and hear that every damn part of the economy is getting slapped around. What industries will sustain this downturn with the least (or minimal) damage? Tobacco, debt collection, plumbing and the medical industry are a few that I thought of, any others?
How about agriculture? After all, people still have to eat.
Soft drinks.
Coca-Cola survived two World Wars, one Cold War, one Great Depression and whatsoever. I’ve heard bankers saying Coke is a surefire investment because even in the deepest crisis people will have a few cents left for a refreshment.
Undertaking ?
Hairdressing ?
I work in a mental ward, so I’m hoping…
professional athletes won’t be hurting
The canonical example is toilet paper.
a few cents?
This Article Sez:
Or try a gum trivia site:
I have heard this a few times but this thread gave me a chance to “verify” it.
I have been in the business of law since the first Bush recession, and I can tell you that litigators and bankruptcy lawyers actually do a little BETTER when other industries are struggling.
In the case of this particular crisis, I think you will find that telecommunications are severely undervalued. They’ve taken the same hit that all the tech-stocks have.
My guess is anything that will get businesspeople in face-to-face touch with clients without actually having to get on an airplane is going to benefit. That means Motorola and any other companies which are developing video-phone technology and attendant services are going to do very well.
These industries are relatively stable throughout economic recession:
Government Agencies
Academia
Pharmaceuticals
Funerary Services
Most forms of Insurance
Automotive Repair
Agriculture
Utilities
Alcohol/Tobacco et al.
Pornographers
Law
Medicine
Major Fast Food Chains
Outlet or Second Hand chains
Entertainment
On the flip side, these industries are particularly susceptible:
Venture Capitalists
Investment Banking
Hey, I sound like a Sally Struthers commercial! 
evilhanz, Ha!
::cut to an I-banker wearing Gucci '99 and wing-tips in dire need of a shine. Holding sign “Will Broker for Lattee”::
Thanks for cheering me up, evilhanz
By the way, I would point out that “law” can vary-- the attorneys who are involved in high-tech IPO’s are having problems. But I can confirm what elvis said about bankruptcy lawyers - they seem to be very busy.
On the subject of Coca-Cola don’t forget that every Coke you buy helps line the pocket of bin Laden. He is part owner of a company that is the sole world supplier of Gum Arabic. This is used in most if not all soft drinks. He has made millions from this project
koufax: Well, you’re right, it’s more than a few cents. Yet Coke isn’t too expensive, and I think most people will be able to afford one even if nearly bankrupt. And thirsty they will be anyway.
David Cronan: I’m instinctively a bit sceptical about things like this, and I checked Snopes about bin Laden and the gum arabic connection. It cites the following declaration from he soft drink tycoons:
*In a September 15, 1998 Baltimore Sun article, a U.S. State Department official said bin Laden divested himself of all (Sudanese) holdings when he was expelled from Sudan in 1996. In that same report, the Sun, quoting another State Department official said, “Bin Laden and his cronies tried to take over all the gum arabic crop in the early 1990’s, ‘but failed in their attempt.’”
*
I would imagine that the gambling “industry” is not feeling very well right now, what with Las Vegas sitting in the middle of a desert and people not too anxious to get on a plane.
I was thinking donuts. That’s why Krispy Kreme stocks seem so nice. And you can get your dividends in glazed donuts. Mmmm.
In good times or bad, there’s always a ready market for high quality hand knitted Afghans.