Did you hear that, Mr Wolfowitz?

Last night, L called KFC/Pizza Hut delivery (they share the same delivery phone number) and got put on hold. For the first time. For a rather long time. When he finally got to speak to the operator, he joked that the IMF-World Bank meetings that taking place here now must be keeping them busy. To his surprise, the operator told him that it was indeed so, and that they were having quite a time fulfilling their orders.

Wow. You'd think that well-heeled bankers would be able to afford to dine at the many fancy restaurants around the convention centre and not have to call for pizza.

And even if they were feeling an economic pinch, financial institutions and businesses are jostling with each other to hold glitzy receptions for the delegates.

Some enterprising merchants are trying to get some dollars out of the 16,000 delegates in town for the meetings. Some restaurants are offering free coffee and tea, there's a clothes retailer offering a 10 per cent discount for delegates and one hospital is having a special on botox for them. (!)

But my favourite is the ad that urges them to "Take Advantage of Our Low Prices in Singapore..."

The company sells hearing aids.

I'm sure there's a subtle hint about the state of the global economy in this.