Here are some of the top business stories making the national headlines.
Energy bill help to continue until end of June
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Spring Budget in the Commons at around 12:30 GMT this morning. Ahead of a slew of announcements later, the Treasury says that energy bill support will continue until the end of June. Find live updates on the BBC.
Teachers, junior doctors and Tube drivers stage mass walkout on budget day
Hundreds of thousands of workers will strike today in what could be the biggest walkout since the current wave of industrial action began. Find out more via Sky News.
UK hair salons and chippies among indie shops ‘most hit’ by cost of living crisis
Hairdressers, dry cleaners and fish and chip shops were among the independent retailers hardest hit by surging energy bills and a consumer spending squeeze last year, putting a dampener on growth for locally owned businesses during the pandemic. Read more in The Guardian.
Home-owning still cheaper than renting overall but difference reduced – study
The cost of a mortgage on a first home is typically around £42 per month cheaper than renting, but the difference has reduced and in some parts of the UK renting may be the less expensive option, analysis suggests. Find out more via the Evening Standard.
