UK Budget: Fuel, beer duties frozen; Cigarettes up 2%

UK excise duties on fuel and beer were frozen in the annual Budget by Finance Minister George Osborne on Wednesday.

The fuel duty freeze is the sixth in a row against a backdrop of plummeting petrol prices. There had been speculation that Osborne would use falling prices to raise more taxes as he was failing to hit his debt reduction targets.

Drinkers will cheer the freeze on beer and cider duties. Smokers will have to choke down a 2% rise from midnight, with rolling tobacco up 3%.