With the OECD think tank predicting for the first time that Britain is about to slip back into recession, tomorrow's autumn statement will include a slew of policies to boost growth.
Chancellor George Osborne is set to inject an extra £5bn of capital investment in a bid to stop Britain's economy from falling back into a recession.
With inflation rising to match record highs, Channel 4 News looks at the effect on the economy and consumer and considers if there are any reasons to be cheerful.
Middle incomes will fall by 7 per cent and a quarter of Britain's children will be living in poverty by 2013, says a report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
The government is setting up a £250m fund to help local authorities in England switch from fortnightly to weekly bin rounds. But there are fears recycling rates could be hit, Channel 4 News hears.
As inspectors arrive in Greece to discuss bailing out the country's economy, the president of the European Commission says the EU is facing the biggest challenge in its history.
As finance ministers discuss the economic and financial crisis, former chancellor Alistair Darling tells Channel 4 News leadership is needed to avert another recession.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg tells his party conference governing is "not doing the easy thing, but doing the right thing". Top Lib Dems tell Channel 4 News their leader had to be "realistic".
The International Monetary Fund says economic growth in Britain will be lower than expected this year and the government may have to delay its tax and spending plans.
Unemployment is rising at its fastest level for two years, as the number of young people without jobs surges.