3 March is the Date for Spring Statement 2026

The government has confirmed that the Spring Statement 2026 will be delivered on 3 March 2026, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves instructing the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an updated economic and fiscal forecast ahead of the announcement.

The confirmation comes as businesses and households continue to adjust to tax and policy changes introduced in the Autumn Budget 2025. While the Spring Statement is not expected to include major fiscal announcements, it will offer an important snapshot of the government’s assessment of the economy and public finances.

What is the OBR’s Role in the Spring Statement?

As part of the process, the OBR will produce an independent forecast covering economic growth, inflation, public borrowing and debt. These forecasts will form the basis of the Chancellor’s statement to Parliament in March.

However, the Treasury has made clear that, unlike what ultimately appeared to happen in last year’s Spring Statement, this Spring forecast will not be used to assess the government’s performance against its fiscal mandate. Instead, it will function as an interim update, allowing policymakers, markets and the public to gauge how economic conditions are evolving between Budgets.

Government Still Committed to a Single Annual Fiscal Event

The Treasury said the Spring Statement 2026 approach reflects the government’s commitment to holding one major fiscal event each year, with significant tax and spending decisions reserved for the Autumn Budget.

By limiting the number of fiscal announcements, the government says it aims to provide greater stability and certainty for families and businesses. Frequent policy changes, it argues, can undermine confidence and make long-term planning more difficult, particularly for investment decisions.

How Will the Spring Statement Follow the Autumn Budget?

The Spring Statement 2026 will be delivered against the backdrop of tax rises announced in the Autumn Budget, which increased tax rates on dividends, property income and savings by two percentage points. One of the most talk-about update was also the Mansion Tax. Those measures were framed as part of the government’s broader effort to stabilise the public finances.

Since then, attention has shifted to how these changes may affect economic behaviour, investment and consumer confidence. The March update will therefore be closely watched for any indication of whether the government believes the economy is responding as expected.

Housing Policy Remains Under Scrutiny

Housing is also likely to remain in focus, given the commitments made in previous Spring Statements. In March 2025, the government had announced £2 billion in funding for social housebuilding, intended to support its target of delivering 1.5 million new homes.

While the announcement signalled an intention to address supply pressures, industry bodies at the time questioned whether the funding was sufficient. They had described the statement as a missed opportunity for renters, reflecting wider concerns about housing availability and affordability.

Conclusion

Although no major policy announcements are expected in March, the Spring Statement 2026 will still provide valuable insight into the government’s economic priorities and outlook ahead of the next Budget. The tone of the OBR forecasts and the Chancellor’s response may influence confidence across key sectors, including housing, investment and small business.

For taxpayers and businesses, the Statement will serve as an early indicator of whether further policy adjustments could be on the horizon later in the year, even if no immediate changes are announced in March.