Sex and money: Match.com traffic up 20%

GM may be facing bankruptcy, but Match.com, the online dating service, had 20% more members sign up this past December than the year before. Followers of the sector won't be surprised -- rival site eHarmony recently did a study and found that traffic to its site tends to move in the opposite direction of a flagging Dow.

So, at a time when people are cutting back in so many other ways, what causes them to put themselves through a process that can be painful, awkward and expensive? Don't they have enough on their minds without worrying about what to wear and how much to lie about their age?

Dr. Michael Cunningham, a psychologist, says that when people are going through tough times, they want someone to be with, someone who understands their concerns. Connecting with someone new can be a great source of support and that can feel good.

Besides, it seems some people may be using the dating services not only to find a mate but to look for a job. Someone who's out of work may even consider a "lunch dating" service, for example, at a time when career counselors advise doing everything you can to "put yourself out there" and "broaden your network."

So the next time you're feeling down, instead of spending more fruitless hours trolling the employment sites, try logging onto Match.com instead. Maybe you'll get lucky.