George Osborne has given businesses some measures of help through holding back fuel duty increases and putting a cap on business rates.

He claimed his plans to bring the economy back up to speed were on track and were working?although this was challenged by Labour's shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, who said the promise to balance the books by 2015 was broken and the economy was in a worse state compared to the Government's predictions.

For the sign industry and business in general, the decision of scrapping next year's 2p a litre rise on fuel will be welcomed, and plans to hold down business rates is a bonus. Whether the change to an electronic vehicle duty system from the age-old car tax discs would affect costs, or the changes to the pension age, married couples allowance, or even investment in a number of infrastructure projects will help order books, all remains to be seen.

One thing they will welcome is the Chancellor's plans to reduce the cost of employing young people. He said national insurance contributions will be removed, affecting a million and a half jobs for young people, which will help bring more into full-time work. It will help sign-makers to employ more youngsters who they want to train up in the business.

Mr Osborne said: “The hard work of the British people is paying off and we will not squander their efforts. The plan is working; it is a long-term plan for a grown-up country. The job is not yet done but Britain is moving again—let's keep going.”