Headlines

STATEMENT: BoE holds rates at 3.75%, as expected; vote split 5-4 (exp. 7-2; Breeden, Dhingra, Taylor, Ramsden vote for cut to 3.5%)

Newsquawk Staff ·

VOTE

  • Bank of England holds key interest rate at 3.75% in 5-4 vote
  • Dhingra, Taylor, Ramsden, Breeden wanted cut to 3.5%
  • Judgements on further easing ‘will become closer call’
  • Slowing easing would provide space to assess neutral rate

GUIDANCE

  • BoE says interest rates ‘likely to be reduced further’

ECONOMY

  • BOE says risk of inflation persistence now ‘less pronounced’
  • Sees potential for modest pickup in UK productivity

FORECASTS

  • BoE sees inflation at 1.8% in 1Q 2028, 2% in 1Q 2029
  • BoE lowers its inflation forecasts for the next three years
  • BoE cuts GDP growth forecast for this year and next
  • BoE says wage growth of 3.25% would be target-consistent
  • Expects 5.3% unemployment by second quarter of 2026
  • Sees private sector wage growth at 3.3% by end of 2026
  • BoE sees GDP growth of 0.9% in ’26, 1.5% in ’27, 1.9% in ’28
  • BoE raises peak unemployment forecast to 5.3% from 5.1%

COMMENTARY

  • BoE Governor Bailey says there is scope for further easing, not clear exactly when, expects ‘quite sharp’ inflation drop in coming months, sees weaker demand despite more positive surveys
  • BoE's Deputy Governor Ramsden says demand risk if savings, consumption don’t normalise; Ramsden says core disinflation is clearly progressing
  • BoE's Chief Economist Pill says structural changes mean disinflation slower than expected
  • BoE’s Taylor says revisions keep showing less inflation, more slack
  • BoE’s Dhingra says market-implied path for rates looks too tight, inflation persistence scenario less compelling
  • BoE’s Breeden says policy should be eased faster than market path, new analysis shows lower wage growth, more slack
  • BoE’s Mann says lower inflation should push down wage settlements, new analysis moves time for another cut closer
  • BoE’s Greene says difficult to justify downward revision to slack
  • BoE's Lombardelli says productivity may prove weaker than BOE predicts
  • BoE’s Greene says future wages, prices, expectations a concern

FISCAL

  • November budget to have expansionary effect on growth.
  • Expects 0.5ppts cut to inflation from labour budget policies

What it means

The Bank of England's decision to maintain rates at 3.75% reflects a divided committee, with a notable 5-4 split indicating a debate over future cuts. This vote suggests a more cautious approach amidst evolving inflation dynamics, as the central bank lowers its growth forecasts while signaling potential for rate reductions ahead, which could influence market expectations and the GBP.

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