Reeves dealt £3bn VAT blow as shoppers ‘switch to cheaper food’

Group 1 - Public sector net borrowing reached £83.8 billion during the first five months of the financial year, with an increase of £18 billion in August alone [4][38][71] - Government spending has surged by £36.8 billion compared to the same period last year, driven by rising public service costs and debt interest payments [2][70] - Interest payable on central government debt rose by £10.6 billion to £49.9 billion since April, largely due to inflation-linked bonds [1][70] Group 2 - The Chancellor is expected to raise taxes by at least £20 billion in the upcoming Budget on November 26, following a £40 billion tax increase last year [2][60] - The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) indicated that the shortfall in tax receipts could be attributed to consumers switching to cheaper food options amid rising inflation [5][38] - Cash VAT receipts were £3 billion below forecast in the first five months of the financial year, with August receipts at £12.8 billion, which was £3.2 billion below expectations [5][38] Group 3 - The pound fell 0.6% against the dollar to $1.347 as markets reacted to higher-than-expected borrowing costs [8][9] - The FTSE 100 index declined by 0.1% to 9,216.67, while the FTSE 250 fell by 0.6% to 21,595.44, reflecting investor concerns over public finances [10][11] - The yield on 30-year UK gilts rose to 5.53%, indicating increased borrowing costs for the government [44][59] Group 4 - The number of company insolvencies in England and Wales rose by 6% in August compared to the previous year, highlighting the financial strain on smaller businesses [45][46] - Public sector employment has reached a record high of 6.2 million, with over two million NHS staff, despite a hiring slowdown in the private sector [48][49] - The Chancellor faces a challenging fiscal environment, with the need to raise £28 billion to address the deteriorating public finances [50][62]