ECONOMICS

 The budget deficit is coming down, but more slowly than hoped. The weakness of corporation tax receipts is a prime cause, as David Smith reports

John Hawksworth analyses the likely economic impact of the Budget

George Osborne will present his fifth Budget on 19 March in the context of an improving outlook for the economy. David Smith looks at what might be in store

Practitioner views on the impact of the Autumn Statement:

• James Bullock examines the enforcement and compliance issues;
• Tony Beare considers the impact on multinational corporations;
• Peter Vaines examines the private client perspective;
• David Whiscombe on the impact of the chancellor’s announcement on SMEs;
• John Hawksworth provides an economic perspective.

Mark Carney, the new Bank of England governor, has only been in the job for a few weeks. But he is already in a battle to convince the markets of his strategy, David Smith reports.

The government's public deficit reduction programme has stalled. Only growth will get it back on track - and four years of a 0.5% bank rate, a 25% sterling depreciation and £375bn of quanitive easing have not done the trick, David Smith reports.