Economists believe the Bank of England will still raise interest rates on Thursday, despite this week’s lower-than-expected inflation figures giving decision-makers a little more leeway.
It is expected that the Monetary Policy Committee will increase rates again, from 5.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent, when it announces its decision on Thursday. That would be the highest base rate since February 2008.
Figures showing a drop in inflation did not change this outlook, economists said, but did make it less likely than before.
Inflation hit 6.7 per cent in August, down from 6.8 per cent in July, and significantly lower than the 7.1 per cent that had been expected.
The figures came as a shock to many, and are likely to have taken bank decision-makers by surprise as well.
Earlier in the month, Governor Andrew Bailey said that recent rises in fuel prices probably meant that inflation would “tick up” in August.
The bank had forecast inflation to reach 7.1 per cent during the month. It increases interest rates to curb inflation.
But experts at Investec Economics said that while headline and services inflation had fallen below the August forecasts, growth in private sector pay had overshot the bank’s outlook significantly.
The bank had forecast that pay would rise 6.9 per cent over three months compared to the year earlier. In fact, it appears to have risen 8.1 per cent.
Inflation around the world - in pictures
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People queue to buy wheat flour at government-controlled prices in Islamabad. Pakistan's economy has been hit hard by a political crisis, as well as devastating floods and the global energy crisis, with the rupee plummeting and inflation at decades-high levels. AFP -
A market in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil's inflation ended 2022 with a sharp slowdown from double-digit peaks seen throughout the year. Reuters -
A market in Istanbul. Turkey's inflation at the end of 2022 stood at 64. 27 per cent, the country's Statistical Institute said, while the independent group of inflation researchers ENAG calculated it at 137. 55 per cent. EPA -
A Walmart in New Jersey. According to a poll, US Republicans and Democrats have distinct views of what’s most important for the government to address amid high inflation. More Republicans name gas and food prices, energy and immigration, while Democrats focus on health care, climate change and poverty. AP -
A used car sales lot in California. US Federal Reserve officials have indicated it’s possibly too early to declare victory over inflation. AFP -
A person walks by a sign showing interest rates at a bank in New York. EPA -
A woman walks with purchases past a store in Berlin. In December, consumer price growth across the Euro zone slowed to 9.2 per cent from 10.1 per cent a month earlier, Eurostat data showed last week. AP -
Workers sit in front of a banner reading "Stop the Inflation Monster" at the Burchardkai Container Terminal as they go on strike for higher wages at the harbour in Hamburg, Germany. Reuters -
Price tags at a market in Nice, France. Reuters -
Commuters cross Waterloo Bridge in London. The British Retail Consortium said spending in store chains rose by 6.9 per cent in annual terms in December, but this was a long way off consumer price inflation, which hit 10.7 per cent in November. Reuters -
Jobseekers in Johannesburg. South Africa’s governing party wants the central bank’s mandate broadened to shore up the economy and promote employment in addition to its existing task of tackling inflation. Reuters -
Social grant recipients stand in a queue outside a post office, as joblessness takes its toll in Meadowlands, South Africa. Reuters
“We think that it is this variable that will convince the Bank of England to increase the Bank rate once again tomorrow to prevent upside risks to inflation from crystallising,” Investec said.
“We do not on balance think today’s softer numbers will change tomorrow’s decision. We continue to expect a 25 basis point hike to 5.5 per cent as our baseline case.
"But the risks around this have changed and more clearly it calls into question the November rate decision."
It could therefore mean that if the bank decides to lift rates this week, it might be the last time it does so, at least for a while.
Any increase would be the 15th to the bank’s base rate in a row. It started increasing rates from 0.1 per cent in December 2021 and has not missed a single opportunity to do so since.
The bank’s Sarah Breeden, who is expected to join the MPC before November’s meeting, said this week she thought inflation could have been double the rate it reached without the BoE's intervention.
But a rise on Thursday is far from certain. James Smith, a developed markets economist at Dutch bank ING, called the decision a “close call”.
“We’re still tempted to say the Bank of England will hike rates tomorrow, and some of the downside surprise in services inflation is down to volatile travel categories,” Mr Smith said.
“But it’s a close call, and both wage and inflation data suggest the end of the current tightening cycle is very close to its conclusion.”
Debapratim De, senior economist at Deloitte, said: “Although many expect the Bank of England to raise interest rates by 25 basis points this week, today’s figures will give it some additional room for manoeuvre, should it choose to pause tightening instead."
