War in Middle East ‘could wipe out growth in UK living standards’

Rising oil and gas prices may affect increase of £300 a year for typical working-age households, says leading thinktank

Wednesday briefing: ​​Was the chancellor’s spring statement already out of date?

In today’s newsletter: ​Against a backdrop of global turbulence, Rachel Reeve’s surprisingly upbeat tone failed to reassure when our supposed economic stability rests on forces mostly outside of the government’s control

What will Rachel Reeves’s spring forecast mean for household finances?

The chancellor promises more money in people’s pockets, but the Iran crisis makes steeper inflation a pressing worry

‘It’s no news just when we wanted some’: bosses react to spring statement

Amid global volatility, Rachel Reeves tried to project calm with a low-key forecast. But business owners have their doubts

Unemployment set to hit 5.3% this year amid ‘worrying’ rise in young jobless

OBR raises forecast from 4.9% and downgrades UK’s growth prospects for 2026 – while also warning of war uncertainty

Iran conflict could have ‘very significant’ impact on UK economy, OBR warns; FTSE 100’s biggest fall in 11 months – as it happened

Spring forecast show UK unempoyment to peak higher than feared, as tax take heads for a record, but headroom against fiscal rules has increased

Reeves’s spring statement? The economy is great, don’t worry about the Middle East

With no spending or fiscal commitments to offer, the chancellor kept it short, sweet and just a little tin-eared

Rachel Reeves claims UK economy can beat forecasts again – is she right? Our writers discuss

The chancellor insists Labour has ‘the right economic plan’ for a world that has become ‘yet more uncertain’

Reeves’s talk of stability may be misplaced amid Iran war turmoil

Attempt to project calm in spring forecast may be short-lived if living costs and unemployment keep climbing

‘I’m concerned the Iran war might drive up living costs’: Britons respond to Reeves’s spring forecast

The chancellor’s statement offered little new on tax or spending, but readers voiced concerns about rising costs

Spring forecast: Reeves insists Labour has ‘right economic plan’ as 2026 growth downgraded

Unemployment predicted to continue rising to 5.3% as chancellor says she is meeting energy firms amid soaring oil and gas prices

Rachel Reeves’s plans could be hit by Middle East conflict, say economists

Warning comes as OBR projections in the spring forecast are expected to show public finances moving in the right direction

UK house prices rise in February as chancellor avoids ‘negative speculation’

Rachel Reeves’s upcoming spring forecast has not led to slowdown, as property tax rumours did in November

Most senior council officers in England say building work hit by delays

Funding uncertainty is main concern, despite Labour’s pledge to revitalise construction, survey shows

OBR a backseat driver with out-of-date maps, thinktanks tell Rachel Reeves

Chancellor urged to reform Office for Budget Responsibility to open way to more public investment