The chancellor is expected to share new plans in the budget this week, and early reports say the news will not be upbeat. Fresh data shows that the UK Growth Forecasts for each of the next five years may be cut. This change comes after a new review by the national fiscal office. The group looked at the economy and found signs that the outlook is weaker than past plans suggested. This review covered growth up to 2030 and shows slower gains than once hoped. The drop is tied to lower levels of past investment, which the review says held back the nation’s ability to grow. The new numbers show that even the extra steps the chancellor has taken in the last months cannot fully lift growth. This means that the weaker growth path may last for many years. It also points to a challenge for the ruling party as the next major vote in 2029 comes closer. With growth weaker, the room for tax cuts or more public spending becomes tight. It also makes it hard for the chancellor to show clear gains in household income before the next vote. The national fiscal office has been reviewing its past work. Its top team agreed that the earlier view of future growth was too high. They now expect less output to come from each hour worked. This is tied to slower gains in productivity. A cut in the assumptions on productivity levels affects all future output. This may cut £10bn to £20bn from future tax income each year. The drop in income could force the chancellor to look for more ways to raise money. It may also limit plans to lift public services. The Treasury has said it knows there is more work to do. It says the government is pushing large sums into new transport links, new digital links and new trade lines around the world. It also says it is making it easier for firms to grow by removing rules that slow them down. But the new review shows that even these large steps may not be enough to stop the fall in growth over the next five years. The chancellor has been trying to convince the fiscal office that her new plans can turn the trend around. She says the early steps in her first two budgets should lift output in the long run. These steps include more public works, new plans to speed up building rules and more support for new firms. But the fiscal office still sees a slow path ahead. It says investment will help, but not at a pace fast enough to undo slow gains in earlier years. With weaker growth and lower tax income expected, the chancellor is exploring new ways to raise funds. One idea now in focus is a levy on high-value homes. Reports say this levy would apply to homes worth more than £2m. This could raise £400m to £450m. More than 100,000 homes could be affected. The goal is to bring in more income without lifting rates for most people. She is also expected to freeze income tax thresholds for two more years, taking the freeze to 2030. When pay rises but tax bands stay still, more people move into higher tax levels. This is a simple way to raise income without changing the headline tax rate. It is a tool many governments use when they need more funds. A few more tax ideas could also be part of the budget. A pay-per-mile plan for electric cars could come in later. As more people shift to electric cars, income from fuel duty falls. This new plan would help fill that gap. There may also be changes to salary sacrifice rules. These rules help workers save money when they pay into pensions or other schemes. A change here would bring in more tax income. Alongside these tax steps, the chancellor is set to remove the two-child limit for support payments. The plan aims to help low-income homes face the high cost of food, housing and other needs. The government has also frozen rail fares and prescription fees to ease daily costs. As the budget nears, one key message stands out. The UK Growth Forecasts for the next five years are weaker than before. This shift shapes the nation’s choices on tax, spending and support. It also sets the tone for the long path to the next major vote.