Chancellor George Osborne will announce that he is capping business rate rises when he delivers his Autumn Statement later this morning.
They had been due to go up 3.2% next year, but according to the BBC rises will now be limited to 2% in England and Wales in 2014 instead of being linked to the September retail prices index measure of inflation.

Retail bodies which have been crying out for business rates relief for years are sure to welcome the move, but are also likely to say it does not go far enough as the Chancellor will not commit to a full review of the system.

Mr Osborne is also expected to extend for a further year the scheme that gives small businesses relief from rates liability.

Read more on the Autumn Statement later today on www.diyweek.net.