The UK's Secret Santa

It was late coming... some might say blessedly so, but it’s been a bumper Christmas on the high street and November saw a sharp drop in unemployment.

Claimants are down by 6,300. It suggests a return to growth in the fourth quarter and is the first fall since February 2008.

Shops have seen their best sales for three years. November retail sales in central London were 13.3% higher like-for-like than a year ago and come mid December, shoppers spent £120m in only two days.

Stephen Robertson, Director General, BRC said: 'These are great figures - the best sales growth for three years. Of course, it was the same BRC chief who warned the government that big tax rises in the PBR will harm customers and damage recovery. Reacting to the PBR, Robertson said the Chancellor was right to make economic growth his priority but, “substantial cuts in public spending must be the main route to bringing the public finances under control.

The MoD appears to be the first department to feel the true weight and nature of those cuts.

On NI increases planned for April 2011, he described it as “madness” and it certainly highlights the fragility of our economy.

Robertson argues it’s a particularly bad move since retailers employ 11% of the workforce, often providing young people with their first jobs. And VAT returning to 17.5% on January 1, 2010, Robertson said: "It's a relief that VAT won't increase beyond 17.5% but "repricing tens of thousands of items is a mammoth task for retailers.”

Maybe we need a rest from the mammoth task that’s been 2009 and recharge for a more measured 2010?

There is a sure fire way of doing that. Over the festive season, turn off that pesky Blackberry or similarly relentless device that never leaves the paranoid free or the conscientious alone.

A Merry Christmas from Finance Week and our very best wishes for a prosperous 2010!