Watch Out

Pre-Budget Report live coverage: Wednesday December 9 from 12.30pm

UK output signals weak start to fourth quarter

Fears over recovery are ignited on bleak industrial and retail data as the Chancellor prepares his Pre-Budget Report

House prices rise on low stock and high demand

Halifax reveals a 1.4% rise in home values has been helped by a shortage of properties on the market

'Was it real?' The US bailout nightmare

The creator of the $700bn bank rescue recalls the panic, and near-death experience, that accompanied events in 2008-09

False dawn for Christmas spending

The number of shoppers hitting the high street fell by nearly 5 per cent last weekend, figures from Experian Footfall show

Lenihan grasps tail of bloodied Celtic Tiger

Ireland’s Finance Minister is delivering a budget from a dire position, but this is a crisis that is not being wasted

Unemployment may rise more slowly next year

New employment survey shows one in ten companies plans to reduce its workforce between January and March next year

MPC will be watching Alistair Darling

The committee will be looking for signals from the Chancellor that the Treasury will address the ballooning public debt

Iceland reveals worst economic slump on record

The struggling country, which nearly collapsed under the banking crisis, is not expected to grow again until 2011

MPC battles inflation by studying exchange rate

Target Two Point Zero challenges students to play the role of the Monetary Policy Committee and recommend interest levels

Manufacturing body sees stagnation in new year

Engineering Employers Federation says although the economy may emerge from recession, recovery will be elusive

At the very least, Chancellor must do no harm

Will Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report put the UK's public finances on a pathway to stability over the medium term?

Billion pound NHS computer project could be scrapped

Doubt cast over future of multibillion-pound programme after Chancellor suggests it may be cut in Pre-Budget Report

Darling’s balancing act: cut deficit or win votes

Will the markets be convinced by Alistair Darling's commitment to reduce Britain’s enormous budget deficit?

Now Obama gets down to work on job creation

Economic conditions in the United States have made modest improvments, but voters say Obama must focus on jobs

Darling's pre-budget report to leave 18% CGT

Despite fears of a 'soak the rich' budget, Wednesday's report will not raise capital gains tax from its present rate

Key UK assets on block

The High Speed 1 rail link will be up for sale as the government eyes a £10bn windfall from its latest privatisation programme

Banks face fresh Dubai debt fears

RBS and HSBC are among UK lenders with exposure to Dubai Holding, the investment vehicle of the emirate’s ruler

Darling’s £40bn cut in public spending

Chancellor will tell government departments that money has run out and they will be facing a three-year cash freeze

Surprise fall in US jobless boosts dollar

Employers in the US cut 11,000 jobs in November, far fewer than the 125,000 economists had feared would be lost