17 result(s) for “Public finances”
Chancellor John Healey used the Autumn Budget to shore up public finances with targeted business tax measures, while expanding HMRC access to its Advance Tax Certainty Service from early November, a move that could speed large investment decisions but raises compliance questions for companies.
Britain’s energy regulator launched an urgent, country specific consultation on October 31, 2026 proposing activation of market stabilisation tools to protect suppliers and consumers from sharp wholesale gas price swings this winter. The move aims to shore up import capacity and reduce the risk of supplier failures, while prompting debate over costs and the role of state support in Britain’s energy transition.
Chancellor John Healey set out his first Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, seeking to thread fiscal discipline with targeted support for households and investment, while markets watched gilt yields and the Office for Budget Responsibility updated its forecasts.
The pound eased on Monday as traders trimmed positions ahead of the government’s Autumn Budget set for Wednesday, with markets cautious about fiscal plans, gilt issuance and the Bank of England policy outlook.
The Office for National Statistics published its first estimate of September retail sales on October 23, 2026, showing subdued monthly growth and pointing to weaker consumer demand ahead of the Autumn Budget. Economists say the data complicates the Bank of England and Treasury outlooks for interest rates and public finances.
New Office for National Statistics figures and a YouGov survey published this week underline the fiscal squeeze facing ministers ahead of the 2026 Autumn Budget, with half of business leaders saying they expect the statement to leave firms worse off.
With Chancellor John Healey due to deliver his first Autumn Budget on October 28, market analysts and financial institutions in London said on October 22 they were positioning for a statement that must balance growth priorities with strict fiscal credibility. Investors will watch gilt yields, bank shares and corporate tax signals for what the government is prepared to fund.
The UK government on October 21, 2026 confirmed a higher rate for the Electricity Generator Levy and signalled plans to extend the levy, aiming to capture excess electricity sector revenues and fund measures to ease pressure on households and businesses as energy markets remain volatile.
Chancellor John Healey has rejected calls to equalise capital gains tax with income tax ahead of his first Budget on October 28. The decision narrows the Treasury's options for raising revenue and shifts attention to bank levies and selective measures to plug the fiscal gap.
London’s FTSE 100 notched its strongest weekly gain since April as investors shifted into defensive sectors and reacted to reassurances from Chancellor John Healey ahead of the October 28 budget. The move highlights market caution over AI sector weakness and rising gilt yields, and raises stakes for Healey’s fiscal plans.
A new analysis highlighting a multi decade high funding gap for public services and defence has intensified market and political scrutiny of Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget, raising the prospect of tax rises, spending cuts, or fresh fiscal trade offs.
Councils across England are announcing closures or limited hours for public toilets, citing rising maintenance and staffing costs. Volunteers, campaign groups and town councils are stepping in to keep facilities open, highlighting the social and public health consequences for older people, parents and disabled residents.
The International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for UK growth in 2026 to 1.3 percent on October 14, 2026, citing stronger-than-expected activity this year, but cautioned that higher energy costs and rising interest rates could slow expansion next year, a development that complicates Chancellor John Healey’s plans ahead of the October 28 budget.
Chancellor John Healey has not ruled out higher levies on UK banks as he prepares his first major fiscal statement on October 28, prompting warnings from City executives that a targeted tax could deter investment and complicate recovery plans for lenders.
British government bond yields climbed to levels not seen since 2007 on October 9, 2026, as a global bond sell off and a rebound in oil prices pushed investors to demand higher compensation for sovereign debt. The move is pressuring bank stocks, lifting mortgage and corporate financing costs, and complicating Treasury plans ahead of the October 28 Budget.