I'm thinking it might just be a bit more awareness. Between rising gas and food prices, and articles like CNN mentioning rice shortages, maybe people are starting to get just a touch more worried about the "what-ifs." It might not even be "survival" so juch as it is "I can afford it now." Which, admittedly, is economic survival.

Speaking of food shortages, I was reading today that the US only has about 2 weeks worth of wheat on hand at any given time. Where did I read this? In a pizzaria, one of the trade magazines! Yes, they have periodicals specifically for pizza.