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Demand destruction fears rise after Iran war drove up oil and gas prices; UK government borrowing jumps – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBritain’s government borrowed more than expected last month, new data shows.The difference between total public sector spending and income widened by £2.2bn year-on-year in February, to £14.3bn.“Borrowing was higher than the same month last year and was the second-highest February figure on record. While receipts were up on last year, that was outweighed by a rise in spending, including the later timing of some debt interest payments.“However, across the first eleven months of this financial year as a whole, borrowing was down, as receipts increased by more than spending.” Continue reading...

Mar 20, 2026 &03282020202631; 07:28 UTC www.theguardian.com Trending 4/5

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Positive for markets

Sentiment score: +85/100

High impact Short-term (days)

WHAT THIS MEANS

Rule-based L2: BULLISH signal from The Guardian Business

AI CONFIDENCE

60% High

SENTIMENT GAUGE

NEWS POWER SCORE

AFFECTED ASSETS

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Oil (WTI Crude)

CL=FCommodity

Expected to rise

Demand destruction fears rise after Iran war drove up oil and gas prices; UK government borrowing ju

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Dow Jones

^DJIIndex

Expected to rise

Demand destruction fears rise after Iran war drove up oil and gas prices; UK government borrowing ju

PRICE HISTORY

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⚡ SUGGESTED ACTION

Automated signal: BULLISH on primary asset

Analysis generated on Mar 21, 2026 at 15:37 UTC

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by artificial intelligence for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendation, or solicitation. Original reporting by The Guardian Business. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Demand destruction fears rise after Iran war drove up oil and gas prices; UK government borrowing jumps – business live

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