LONDON BOOMING

It’s good to learn that John Lewis in Oxford Street, one of the brighter spots in an otherwise overrated thoroughfare, recorded its first £1m day at the end of September (the 29th), a month earlier than normal. Andy Street, managing director of John Lewis department stores, said: “The West End is robust. We’re on a steady course for Christmas.” The British Retail Consortium also noted that retail sales grew 3% in September compared with 1.8% in August, so it looks like Brit shoppers are coming out to spend again.

BOOTLE POOTLES (AGAIN) ON HOUSE PRICES

Another month, another dire warning of a house price crash from ex-HSBC chief economist Roger Bootle and now boss of Capital Economics. Bootle is the moaning Minnie of the mortgage world, a latter-day sandwich board man endlessly predicting the end of the property market as we know it and boring everyone silly in the process. Read our lips, Rodge: No house price crash anytime soon. OK?