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‘A pretty grim picture’: outlook for UK living standards slashed despite Healey’s budget
UK NewsPoliticsBusiness•October 28, 2026 at 3:40 PMNational

‘A pretty grim picture’: outlook for UK living standards slashed despite Healey’s budget

By Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent•The Guardian - UK News

OBR cautions about Middle East war dragging down growth and triggering a fresh cost of living crisisHealey offers £100 payment to households to help navigate ‘global economic storms’Budget 2026: key points at a glanceBudget 2026 live – latest updatesBritish households face a “pretty grim picture” for living standards as the war in the Middle East drags down growth and triggers a fresh cost of living crisis, the government’s independent forecaster has said.In a report as John Healey announced his first budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) issued a sharp downgrade for growth in 2027, household disposable incomes and the public finances despite the measures taken by the chancellor. Continue reading...

OBR cautions about Middle East war dragging down growth and triggering a fresh cost of living crisis

British households face a “pretty grim picture” for living standards as the war in the Middle East drags down growth and triggers a fresh cost of living crisis, the government’s independent forecaster has said.

In a report as John Healey announced his first budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) issued a sharp downgrade for growth in 2027, household disposable incomes and the public finances despite the measures taken by the chancellor.

Continue reading...