Christmas Shopping Frenzy to save the economy?

It is the time of year for hoary old chestnuts and surely this is the most common one. Every year there is a comparisons with like for like sales from the year before, no matter that in recent years relatively strong inflation means that actual falls in sales revenues must be a disaster.

Instead we get treated to TV programmes and news discussing just how many people can get into the Metrocentre or Bluewater. It is all nonsense in the scheme of things, people buying lots of imported goods won't make too much of a difference to the economy, although it will keep a few shops going.

The bit that really exercises me is the sight of of all these poor men being dragged along! What are they thinking. Christmas Eve, the traditional time to buy presents is not until tomorrow and even then the garages are open until past 10pm. What is the Country coming too?