Unexpected Economic Preview Shakes UK Markets

In a surprising turn of events, the UK's fiscal watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), released its economic forecast earlier than usual. This happened just before the finance minister, Rachel Reeves, was set to unveil her budget plans. The report, which typically comes out after the budget speech, was found on the OBR's website, hidden in an unadvertised link. The document gave a sneak peek into the OBR's predictions about the economy and how Reeves' proposed tax and spending changes might affect it. This early release caused a quick reaction in the financial world. The value of the British pound went up for a short time, and the prices of UK government bonds also saw a brief increase. The OBR did not immediately explain why the report was released early. This unexpected move has left many people wondering about the reasons behind it and what it means for the UK's economic future.