"Confidence among UK firms has slumped to its lowest level for two years, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce. 55% of companies surveyed plan to raise their own sales costs in the next three months. The BCC warned that budget measures could lead to job cuts and price rises. Shevaun Haviland, BCC Director General, stated: 'The worrying reverberations of the budget are clear to see in our survey data.'"