Bank of England votes 6-3 to hold interest rates at 5.25%

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has held rates for a third consecutive time. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted 6-3 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. Two members voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, while one member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Interest rates have now been at …

UK inflation falls further than expected in November at 3.9%

‘The Bank of England now certainly faces a less daunting task’ The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) has dropped to 3.9% in the year to November 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics released today (20 December). The fall defied expectations, as economists had forecast inflation to decrease to 4.4% for the month from 4.6% in October …

Autumn Statement 23: Jeremy Hunt sets out ‘pot for life’ pension reforms

Chancellor pledges to give workers the legal right over where employers pay contributions Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced he will consult on “pot for life” pensions reforms. In the Autumn Statement today (22 November) Hunt said the government would consult on giving pension savers a “legal right to require a new employer to pay pension contributions into their existing pension”. …

UK inflation sharply falls in October to 4.6%

Official figures show inflation down from 6.7% in September UK inflation declined sharply in October, falling to an annualised rate of 4.6% from 6.7% in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The drop in housing prices was the largest contribution to the fall in inflation, contributing 1.6 percentage points to the 2.1 percentage point decline. …

Bank Rate Steady At 5.25% As Central Banks Push Pause Button

The Bank of England has left borrowing costs untouched for the second time in a row, as monetary policymakers around the world press pause in their fight against inflation. In a widely expected move, the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), voted 6-3 to maintain the Bank Rate at a 15-year high of 5.25%. The three in the minority voted to …

Govt stealth tax sees IHT bills hit record £3.9bn

HMRC took in £3.9bn from inheritance in six months to end of September, £400m more than in the same period last year. The government collected a record amount from inheritance tax (IHT) in the six months to the end of September as frozen thresholds mean more estates are being hit by the tax. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) took in …