PREDICTING the future can be difficult business even when the world is strong and stable. But now, when so much is in flux and many politicians seem to care only whether the bottom is about to fall out of their careers, let alone the nation’s economy, it is even harder. Therefore, this month I will be trying to predict what the future holds by (metaphorically) looking deep into people’s shopping trolleys to see what they’ve been panicbuying. For most people this seems to be tins of baked beans, large bottles of paracetamol and toilet paper. And there the choice of toilet paper can tell us so very much about the future. For most the choice is something that is soft, strong, and very very long with free puppies. However, for others it has to be the kind that is hard, shiny, painful and you’re only allowed two sheets per trip so you’d better use both sides. A bit like Brexit really.