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After months of speculation,

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businesses finally have the concrete detail of the Budget pour over.

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The news is mixed at best.

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At the highest level, this Budget is about reassuring markets

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and setting out plan to manage day-to-day spending and to avoid it

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creating any inflationary pressures while doing so.

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Against the backdrop

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of weak sentiment and sluggish growth,

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this has meant balancing some difficult economic and political decisions.

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With that in mind,

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it has likely achieved its core aim and navigated through this tricky path.

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But stepping back, it marks another Budget period passing without a clear focus

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on improving economic competitiveness and boosting economic growth in the UK.

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Instead, the Chancellor's primary job was to rebuild fiscal headroom,

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which was arguably a slightly lighter task than had been expected.

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The result was a fiscal consolidation, with the biggest revenue raisers being

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a further freeze to personal tax thresholds and limitations on salary sacrifice

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pension schemes.

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This is alongside

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spending measures targeted at bringing down the cost of living and inflation,

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predominantly via welfare expansion
and action on household energy bills.

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So far, there has been little market reaction thanks to the larger headroom,

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which will be reassuring
for the government.

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There was also a clear desire in this Budget

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to insulate businesses
from significant tax rises.

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Moreover, the protection of capital spending and steps to support UK

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entrepreneurs provided

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some positive signals against
what was otherwise a consolidation Budget.

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However, with business confidence fragile and profitability at near multi-year

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lows, a concerted supply side
push to boost

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productivity and investment is much needed.

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Businesses will be somewhat concerned by the fact that growth,

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previously the core mission of this government,

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seems to have fallen
somewhat down the agenda.

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There is some good news, though.

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The fiscal headroom raised in this Budget should provide

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some much needed stability
for the wider business landscape.