Bank of England votes 8-1 to hold interest rates at 5%

Many economists predict that a further rate reduction will come at the Committee’s meeting in November. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted 8-1 to hold Bank Rate at 5%. One member preferred to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4.75%. The MPC reduced interest rates last month from 5.25%, the first cut since March 2020. …

Inflation falls to Bank of England’s target of 2%

Inflation has returned to target for the first time in almost three years. CPI inflation fell to the Bank of England’s 2% target in May, down from 2.3% in the previous month, the latest ONS figures show. CPI last hit 2% in July 2021, almost three years ago, and has fallen from its peak of 11.1% in October 2022. On …

UK inflation slides to 2.3%

Inflation fell sharply to a near three-year low in April thanks largely to lower energy prices, according to the Office for National Statistics. UK inflation has fallen sharply to its lowest level in nearly three years. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), consumer price index (CPI) inflation fell to 2.3% in April from 3.2% in March. Cooler energy …

UK inflation drops less than expected to 3.2%

Food price rises are slowing but rate cut decision still several months away if figures remain where they are. UK consumer prices index (CPI) inflation slowed less than expected to 3.2% in March, raising the prospect that a rate cut will take longer than predicted. Although the March figure is the smallest monthly inflation rise for two-and-a-half years, it is …

Bank of England votes 8-1 to hold interest rates at 5.25%

The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has held rates for a fifth consecutive time. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted 8-1 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. One member voted to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Interest rates have now been at 5.25% since August 2023, with many economists predicting that rates will begin …

UK inflation falls to 3.4%

Inflation came in below economists’ forecasts of 3.5%. UK inflation has fallen to the lowest level seen since September 2021, with the annual rate falling from 4.0% in December and January to 3.4% in February. The ONS data shows that core CPI inflation (stripping out energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) was 4.5%, down from 5.1% in January, while food inflation …