It seems that Alistair Darling's budget yesterday has done little to impress most quarters and has been slammed in the national press this morning.
Quotes such as "the nation is hurtling towards bankruptcy at breakneck pace" and "a stake driven through the heart of New Labour," have been splashed across the papers, but what has the reaction been from those in the business and retail sectors?

"An empty budget from an empty treasury," says the British Hardware Federation. BHF managing director Alan Hawkins continued: "There is little or nothing in it for either consumers or retailers. The move on credit insurance is both overdue and underdone."

The Forum of Private Business saw "no respite for small businesses," and is "concerned that the 2009 budget failed to address the main issues threatening the UK's struggling small businesses.

"Proposals to improve access to finance, ease the burden of costs and stimulate economic activity were absent from today's announcement," it said yesterday. "In addition, although the Government has unveiled a new £1.7bn job creation fund, nothing has been done to help smaller employers hold on to their key staff."

What's your reaction to the measures announced yesterday? Can you see them helping your business? Have your say by commenting on this story below.