[Mr Ramsbotham]

Pardon me while I just jump out of this basement window.

[BJungNan]

Pardon me while I just jump out of this basement window.

Pardon me while I just jump out of this ground level window.

[GraceCoolidge]

During the housing market boom, which ended about 18 months ago, millions of homeowners took out home equity loans, helping to boost their spending.

"Taking out equity," meaning "borrowing against your house" to do holiday shopping. Nothing like using a mortgage to buy that new xBox. Maybe the decline in the "boom" will help to save some people from themselves...