Gifts of the month growing popular

NEW YORK » Sex toys. French films. "Star Wars" action figures. Erotic photos.

What do these things have in common? They’re the gifts that keep on giving — about every month.

Dozens of online subscription businesses have popped up offering to ship boxes of different goodies within a given niche or theme, like makeup or travel, each month. Most often, the exact products remain a mystery until they’re shipped.

These monthly subscriber services have gained fans among those who appreciate novelty and surprise. But as their popularity has grown, the list of products they offer has gone from ordinary (think: hair products) to really niche (think: black socks) to naughty (think: vibrators).

Overall, subscription services account for less than 1 percent of the nation’s $231 billion online business, excluding the movie subscription service Netflix, Forrester Research estimates. But experts say they are poised to do well during the holiday season because there aren’t a lot of must-have gifts on people’s wish lists.

Total recall

About 8,300 Manhattan Toy Quixel baby rattles in the U.S. and 4,100 in Canada have been recalled. The plastic rattles have arches in red, orange, green and blue with sliding beads on each of the arches. The arches are held together by a single string of red, white and blue elastic. The arches can break, creating a small part that could choke small children.

The rattles were sold at specialty toy and baby stores nationwide, in Canada and online at www.manhattantoy.com from September 2011 through October 2013. Call Manhattan Group at 800-541-1345 or visit www.manhattantoy.com.

SHIP AHOY

Today’s ship arrivals and departures:

COMING UP

» Tuesday: Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for October. Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for October. H&R Block Inc. reports quarterly financial results after the markets close.

» Wednesday: Treasury releases federal budget for November.

» Thursday: Commerce Department releases retail sales data for November and business inventories for October. The global airline industry issues its annual profit forecast and outlook for the coming year.

» Friday: Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for November.