Swingers sex parties are feeling the pinch of the tough economy

You know it's a tough economy when the swinger sex scene is feeling a chill.

Swingers and those curious about the lifestyle sat on sleek black couches beneath big-screen TVs with muted sex scenes. Some attendees stepped behind sheer curtains and onto private nooks' mattresses. But the party remained relatively tame.

A couple lingering near the bar explained that the sluggish economy has thinned out local swinging parties, saying, "If you want to save money, you can stay home and get laid for free."

Like the roaming party, most swinging venues are suffering from the economic malaise. The recession has left both stationary swinging clubs and roaming adult parties with lackluster event attendance and shorter membership lists.

"They used to say sex was an industry that was not affected by the recession -- that's not true," said a anonymous swinger because of privacy concerns. "Everybody -- A to Z in the sex-related industries -- is feeling the pinch."