Life’s about to get much tougher…for all of us…It’s that R-word again. Loose talk of a ‘recession’ has been bandied about for some time, particularly amongst those of us who keep a keen eye on what’s happening in both the money markets and the high street.

Eight years into a new millennium, it feels like the end of an era. The end of the eras of cheap credit, cheap food and cheap energy. Will they be back? Even Pollyanna might swallow hard before giving the nod to that one.

Will there be a cut at all? Looks like a half-point is out. Gold continues to confuse – here’s how you can buy it cheaply ahead of the next leg higher. Will margin calls lead the property market lower?