Papers focus on economic chill

Fittingly for this time of year, there is a sense of eras ending - and new ideas emerging.

Peter York, in the Independent, says Josiah Wedgwood established his company - which has gone into administration - as "the definitive brand" for ceramics.

But, as the Guardian reports, people now eat out rather than serving meals at home on their best china.

Stephen Bayley in the Times says "the very idea of a cup and saucer now seems ridiculously quaint".

Job cuts

The Times, for one, has little doubt that the economic downturn may well get worse.

It reports that Marks and Spencer is preparing to announce cuts of nearly 1,000 shop staff, and hundreds more in its head office and support services.

The Sun notes that the year has got under way with a flu epidemic, job losses and an chilly blast.

After what it calls Arctic Monday, the paper sums up the situation as "Sick... Sack... Snow".

Savings plan

A correspondent for the Guardian asks whether the Gordon Brown who wants to create 100,000 jobs is the same one who recently axed 100,000 civil servants.

The Daily Mirror calls the Conservative proposal to cut the tax on personal savings "soundbite politics" and an act of madness.

However, the Daily Telegraph welcomes the idea as "a bold promise".

The Daily Express thinks Mr Brown is now under "intense pressure" to come up with something similar.

Last dance?

Many report a warning that Morris dancing could be "extinct" within 20 years because young people are too embarrassed to take part.

The Daily Telegraph says the stereotype of middle-aged men with beards who like a pint of bitter still holds true.

"How the Morris dance is dying of embarrassment", is the headline in the Daily Mail.

"Troupe leaders fear kids will not get involved because they worry about being mocked," says the Sun.