Spring Forecast 2026 – what small businesses should expect – Small Business UK

February 23, 2026 / Liam Redmond /

The Spring Forecast is scheduled for March 3, 2026. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is set to provide its latest fiscal forecast, which the Chancellor will respond to.

First of all, don’t expect any new policy – Reeves has stressed in the past that there is to be one formal fiscal announcement per year in the form of the Autumn Budget. There won’t be any assessment of the government’s performance against fiscal rules, either.

For the first time in its 16-year history, the OBR will not publish an assessment of how the government is progressing in meeting its own fiscal rules.

Unlike the lateness of last year’s Autumn Budget, this is the earliest Spring Forecast on record. This makes it easier for businesses and accountants to plan before the new tax year.

The government reported its greatest ever surplus in January. The public sector recorded a £30.4 billion surplus, according to ONS figures, which is double the surplus and £6.3 billion higher than the OBR’s November forecast. That said, the surplus tends to be higher at this time of year because of an increase in tax receipts.

There’s not much to report at the moment, but we’ll be updating this article to keep you in the know.

The Spring Forecast 2026

When is the Spring Forecast 2026?

The Spring Forecast will be on March 3.

When will it start?

Though there’s no set start time, the BBC says it’s likely to be shortly after midday.

Where will it be broadcast?

The announcement will be broadcast live on the BBC and on parliamentlive.tv.

Liam Redmond

As an editor at Forbes Canada, I specialize in exploring business innovations and entrepreneurial success stories. My passion lies in delivering impactful content that resonates with readers and sparks meaningful conversations.