You may have read reports that retail sales in Britain fell by 0.4 per cent between November and December last year. Economic commentators certainly did and cited it as evidence that recession was on its way.

But wait a moment. Less shopping in December than in November? That was not my experience and I doubt if it was yours. Or anyone’s. Sales of food and drink are usually about 20 per cent higher in December than in an average month, and sales of other goods about 40 per cent higher. And that is what happened.