The economy expects you to do your consumer duty

Did you know that today is officially (well, at least according to the papers) Mega Monday?

Yes, on December 8 it is your chance – no, your duty – to help the UK spend its way out of a recession with a pre-Christmas online shopping binge.

Today is, apparently, the biggest day of a Christmas online retail season in which more than £13bn will be splurged on gifts, according to the internet trade body IMRG. Those of a cynical mindset might suspect IMRG's hand in the Mega Monday branding.

The mouse-clicking frenzy is supposedly due to peak at lunchtime as workers log on to spend an estimated £28m in an hour.