YET AGAIN, CONFESSIONS OF A TORTURED STATISTIC

Some wise man once said “Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.” Add to that those persistent rumours that if you torture statistics long enough it will eventually confess to something, and you have a potent mix on your hands. Not for the first time, we have seen some innocuous set of numbers scoured and pored over in excruciating detail, until at least some crumbs of comfort could be rescued from the grim rubble. For the numbers this is an extremely frustrating ordeal. All they want is to be allowed to tell it like it is: you lot dunno what’ya doing. But then who cares about the unleavened truth when sheer romantic escapism presents a far more appealing picture? Without a doubt this economic crisis is the ultimate homage to St Jude, the patron saint of lost causes. I have closely followed these recovery tales- and I have the entire list of news stories to prove it - since May 2009, which means we're entering the third year of recovery! Some recovery this.

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