The mood in Britain seems far from merry as we head towards Christmas.

Households continue to carry the enormous burden of the cost of living crisis. Annual consumer prices index inflation may have fallen back but the spectacular price rises which have already happened are baked in. And prices are of course continuing to rise, just at a slower pace.

There was a sharp jump in household energy bills in October. There will be a further rise in January. And yet another increase is now being projected in April next year.

Of course, the cost of living crisis is not the only woe suffered by households in recent years.

The Tory hard Brexit has taken a heavy toll on the economy and living standards, and will continue to do so. This toll is having to be paid by everyone; yes, including Brexit voters.

And the grim effects of the Tories’ ill-judged and savage austerity programme, on the economy and society, remain very much with us.

Good news on the economic and business front, while far from absent, often seems rather thin on the ground at the moment.

However, one sector that continues to be a ray of sunshine amid the gloom is overseas travel.

Amid what sometimes seems like all-pervading misery in the UK, households are certainly not brimming with confidence when it comes to spending.

However, the latest results from TUI on Wednesday added to the slew of recent evidence showing those consumers who are fortunate enough to have a choice are very much continuing to prioritise holidays.

Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown, had an interesting way of summing it up in the wake of TUI’s results.

He said: “Consumers........

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