A temporary cut to VAT on petrol is under consideration for the Budget, according to an earlier report by Bloomberg. It was published on 11 October and cites people familiar with the plans. The same report says extending the freeze on fuel duty is also being considered.
Bloomberg reports that the Chancellor, John Healey, will announce more energy support this winter, including through the Warm Home Discount. It says the cost-of-living measures are designed to expire before 2029/30, the year in which the main fiscal rule bites. That would leave the key target largely unaffected.
This fits the Financial Times report that the Budget will be "scorecard positive" in 2029/30.
Bloomberg also says that rises in global borrowing costs triggered by the US-Iran war are estimated to have halved the £23.6bn of headroom against Labour's main rule. That rule requires day-to-day spending to be covered by tax receipts by the end of the parliament. The estimate has not been independently checked.
Tom Pope, chief economist at the Institute for Government, is quoted as saying the consensus is that Mr Healey will let medium-term headroom fall a little and announce short-term cost-of-living support.
None of these measures has been confirmed by the Treasury.