At first it sounds a bit stupid: of course you would have noticed… it’s a recession. Less money, high prices, bankers not welcome at dinner parties, easy.

But really, how would anyone actually tell? Prices fluctuate all the time but the trend is usually upwards. Besides which prices haven’t really shot up all that much. In my opinion, it’s actually the fact that we were told that there is a credit cruch, recession and so on that sales have slumped.

Any individual person is probably out of pocket by a few Dollars, Pounds. Probably less than would be noticed in the weekly shop. Why then, is nobody spending? We all have the money, there’s no lack of new products at reasonable prices and the number of people being laid off isn’t particularly high.

Which brings me back to the title. Is it because we feel we shouldn’t be spending? The word recession brings up images of job loss and an inability to feed ourselves, the constant media attention on the “credit crunch” makes everyone much more conscious of their savings and debt, thereby less likely to want to spend any of their money; even if they can afford it. So, what would be happening now if the media had made a conscious effort not to make such a fuss over it. Would we still be in this situation of stagnation, nobody willing to borrow money or let it go; a fear of money moving no matter what we get in return? Or would it have passed us by, the banks had a few shaky months and a loan from the government and everyone get on with their lives.

Perhaps with a new Honda and a trip to Hawaii.