When I was a cub reporter, writing for the paper of record at a time when the economy was booming and weekly personal finance pages numbered more than two dozen, the phrase ‘hardy perennial’ was bandied about on a regular basis.
Like the plants which reappear year after year, in this context ‘hardy perennial’ referred to the type of money article sure to appeal to readers, focusing on a topic which never went out of fashion. So, pieces on the challenges facing first-time buyers, guides to buying an annuity, that sort of thing.
It’s more than 15 years since I last heard that expression. Nevertheless, it’s as relevant today as it was when interest rates hovered around the 5 per cent mark (imagine that!) and negative growth was a laughable concept.
I was reminded of the hardy perennial this morning when an email about the cost of living squeeze landed in my inbox.
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