Budget

Chancellor George Osborne is set to confirm a freeze on council tax for a second year to help families and pensioners.

In his address to the Conservative Party conference, Chancellor George Osborne returns to his theme of unity in the face of international economic adversity – but rules out early tax cuts.

As Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney prepares to reveal the SNP’s first budget since its massive election victory, opposition leaders say the party must prove it can afford its pledges.

A public sector pay freeze, a new levy on large alcohol and cigarette retailers and a commitment not to raise council tax for five years, are the headlines from this year’s Scottish budget.

The International Monetary Fund says economic growth in Britain will be lower than expected this year and the government may have to delay its tax and spending plans.

As the IMF cuts its growth forecast for the British economy, Channel 4 News explains what it means for our money.

The top rate of income tax may not be raising any revenue for the government and could even be losing it money, a think tank is warning.

As 20 leading economists call on the Chancellor to scrap the 50p top rate of tax, one of them tells Channel 4 News Britain’s economy is likely to be damaged unless action is taken.

As Italy prepares to sign off its austerity budget, Channel 4 News looks at the countries in Europe facing the most pain from spending cuts and tax rises.

The IMF endorses George Osborne’s plans for getting the UK economy back on its feet and expects to see “moderate growth” this year, despite the slowdown at the end of 2010.

Britain’s economy has recovered by just 0.5 per cent at the start of 2011, undermined by a big drop in construction, and Labour has seized upon the results to criticise Chancellor George Osborne.

Retail sales rose by a small 0.2 per cent in March, but the British Retail Consortium tells Chanel 4 News: “People are feeling the pinch”

As Portugal becomes the latest EU country to ask for a bailout, George Osborne says the Government’s austerity measures are needed to prevent a similar crisis in the UK. Faisal Islam takes a look.

Amid warnings that serious unrest in Saudi Arabia could push oil prices to unheard-of levels, there are fears that the record price of Brent crude could put the brakes on the UK’s recovery.