World

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

OBR cautions about Middle East war dragging down growth and triggering a fresh cost of living crisis Healey offers £100 payment to households to help navigate ‘global economic storms’ Budget 2026: key points at a glance Budget 2026 live – latest updates 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 announce