Overview
- Rachel Reeves has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to publish an interim economic and public finance forecast on 3 March 2026.
- The request excludes an assessment of progress toward the government’s fiscal targets, reflecting the November move to annual rule checks.
- The government says it will keep one major fiscal event each year at the autumn budget, with the spring update limited to an interim forecast.
- OBR chair Richard Hughes resigned after a document security failure led to early release of budget details, and a new permanent chair is not expected before March.
- Surveys cited by officials indicate confidence among businesses and consumers was weakened by prolonged pre-budget speculation earlier this year.