Consumer staples stocks like Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) are leaders in their respective industries, making them excellent stocks to consider if you're in the market for stable sales growth and rising dividend income, no matter which way the economy is headed. Walmart's comparable-store sales were up 8% in the core U.S. market last quarter, putting it well ahead of Target and roughly on pace with Costco Wholesale. P&G posted a 5% organic sales boost in the period that ended in late December and has been modestly outgrowing rival Kimberly-Clark over the past full year.