By Robin Bowman

It was quite a budget. Quite some budget-busting numbers.

So, we'll shrink by 3.5% in 2009, but it'll all be over by Christmas, says Mr Darling. The country will be back to growth in 2010, turning in a stunning 1.25% performance that year and a relatively whopping +3.5% from 2011.

Perhaps a tad optimistic.

Meanwhile unemployment hits 2.1 million as it heads almost certainly to the 3 million mark.