Tills ring out through Christmas

So, hectic, exhausting, funny and slightly disappointing in the end - but enough about the Dr Who Christmas special, how was the big day round your way? asks blogger Andrew Owen

According to latest figures, several million people spent some of it shopping on the internet – presumably while opening presents and cooking the turkey.

And some of those people will doubtless be heading out again today to fuel their possession obsession.

Shops are gearing up for a Boxing Day sales bonanza* as millions of us prepare to do battle once again for cut-price clothes, books, DVDs, CDs, televisions and stereos.

Recession? What recession?

Still, we may as well enjoy it while its lasts. According to The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the economy is going to shrink by 2.9% in 2009 - that’s the biggest squeeze since the end of the war.

And those bargains we are so keen to pick up may not be around next year. Shops are cutting their profit margins to the bone, and several big names are in real trouble.

We’ve already seen Woolworths go under, with 27,000 jobs, then music retailer Zavvi - which employs 3,400 people, go into administration, along with coffee specialist Whittards and menswear chain The Officers Club.

In short, it’s not looking good out there.

So shoppers can be forgiven for making hay while the sun shines.

Not even a timelord can predict where we’ll be next year.

*© Every newspaper in Great Britain