Letter: The personal price that must be paid for the pursuit of zero inflation

Sir: Many of your readers might share my appreciation if you would find a feature writer who could explain Britain's financial mess to us from a starting point like, 'Once upon a time . . .'

I read every word you print on the matter. I remain totally baffled. For instance, it seems that I can do my bit by heading for the high street and making extravagant use of my credit cards. Since I would buy Japanese electronics, a German car, Italian furniture and French food, how would this help? And when and why did it cease to be a virtue to live within one's means?

And please tell the feature writer that we would like the ending to the article to be 'and they all lived happily ever after'.

Yours faithfully,

BRUCE MARSHALL

London, W2

16 September