From left, Richard Hughes, Prof David Miles and Andy King from the Office of Budget Responsibility. PA
From left, Richard Hughes, Prof David Miles and Andy King from the Office of Budget Responsibility. PA
From left, Richard Hughes, Prof David Miles and Andy King from the Office of Budget Responsibility. PA
From left, Richard Hughes, Prof David Miles and Andy King from the Office of Budget Responsibility. PA

'2023 is going to be a very difficult year', OBR warns UK government


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Next year is going to be "very difficult” for households as bills continue to rise, the official UK economic forecaster has warned MPs.

MPs were given the alert by Office for Budget Responsibility committee member David Miles days after the agency forecast that the UK will be in recession for more than a year.

The effects of rising interest rates and continued inflation will cause pressure next year, but they are predicted to turn a corner moving into 2024, Mr Miles said.

“2023 is going to be a very difficult year, very likely, but the years after it will not be quite as bad,” the economist told the Treasury committee.

But the agency's latest economic forecasts still appear more optimistic than those revealed by the Bank of England this month.

OBR chairman Richard Hughes said its longer-term growth projections were more positive as interest rate expectations and energy price futures declined between the two forecasts.

UK's finance minister says he is focused on bringing down inflation as economy shrinks - video

The OBR also said it was predicting that more people would use their savings to support spending habits, despite continued pressure on the cost of living.

Mr Hughes also told MPs on the committee that governments should not make fiscal decisions without an “up-to-date economic outlook”, after the economic fallout of former prime minister Liz Truss’s mini-budget.

Ms Truss and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng came under fierce scrutiny in September after they announced tax cuts and spending measures without economic forecasts.

The pair told Mr Hughes on September 7 that they would not seek economic forecasts for a fiscal announcement on September 23.

What is a recession? - video

However, concerns over the unfunded nature of the fiscal announcement and a lack of clarity over the economic outlook caused the pound to slide to a record low against the US dollar.

Ultimately, the economic turmoil contributed to the short tenure of the Truss government, with the spending plans largely reversed by new chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

How to prepare for a recession - video

“The committee in its own reports has commented on the growing tendency in UK fiscal policy making for major policy announcements to happen without forecasts," Mr Hughes said on Tuesday.

“Good practice as defined by anyone, not just us but international institutions, would say you shouldn’t make fiscal decisions without them being informed by an up-to-date view of the economic outlook.”

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

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Tell-tale signs of burnout

- loss of confidence and appetite

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Tips to help overcome burnout

Acknowledge how you are feeling by listening to your warning signs. Set boundaries and learn to say ‘no’

Do activities that you want to do as well as things you have to do

Undertake at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. It releases an abundance of feel-good hormones

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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
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  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
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*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

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Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Updated: November 22, 2022, 11:31 PM`