But as the Bank of England governor has pointed out recently, that is quite likely in an economy that is broadly flat.

BBC: Straws of hope from GDP

But Home Office minister Alan Campbell pointed out that burglary had more than halved in the last 12 years with levels remaining flat despite the recession.

BBC: UK's burglary 'hotspots' revealed

As I pointed out a while ago, one consequence of uprating benefits with inflation at a time of flat or falling real wages has been to help narrow the gap between rich and poor.

BBC: Fairness and the welfare bill