And finally. . . . in a week which saw the pound's revaluation and yet another surge in stock values, a reader, having overdosed on too many column inches of economic verbiage and the accompanying seemingly endless analytical crystal-ball gazing, offers these aspirins of witticism to help restore equilibrium. Two economists are standing by a bank of ground floor lifts. Three lifts pass by on the way to the basement. One foolishly remarks: "I wonder why everyone in the basement wants to go upstairs?" . The response was instant.

"You're confusing supply with demand." Can't quite understand that one. Bill and Boris are taking a break from a long summit. Boris says to Bill "You know, I have a big problem. I have a hundred bodyguards and one of them is a traitor. But I don't know which one." "No big deal," says Bill. "I 'm stuck with a hundred economic advisers I have to listen to all the time before taking any economic related policy decision. Only one tells the truth . . . but it's never the same one." Now that I can understand!