British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt will deliver the government’s Budget commitments on Wednesday against a better-than-expected economic backdrop, but economists expect him to stay cautious for now. In his Autumn Statement in November, Hunt delivered a £55 billion ($66 billion) package of tax rises and spending cuts in a bid to plug a substantial hole in the country’s public finances and restore its fiscal credibility. A marked improvement in the country’s fiscal position and a sharp reduction in wholesale natural gas prices since Hunt took office late last year propelled the government to a surprise £5.4 billion ... (full story)