A decorator recently came around to quote for some painting work on our house. He was pretty flexible about when he could do the job. “I’m coming to the end of two and a half years of boom time,” he said gloomily. “People were pouring money into home improvements because they couldn’t have holidays or go out during lockdown — but inflation is putting paid to that.”  There are clear indications that consumers are having to curtail their plans as household budgets are increasingly stretched. Nationwide’s monthly spending reports show that outlay on home improvements and do-it-yourself fell by 7 per cent in June and 8 per cent in July,…