Headline inflation slid by more than expected to an annual 3.4% in February, its lowest level since September 2021, fresh data showed Wednesday.
The larger-than-expected fall in both the headline and core figures was welcome news for policymakers ahead of this week's interest rate decision, though the Monetary Policy Committee has so far been reluctant to offer strong guidance on the timing of its first reduction.in the final quarter of 2023 and has endured two years of stagnation, following a huge gas supply shock in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Berenberg expects headline annual inflation to fall to 2% in the spring and remain close to that level for the remainder of the year. It is anticipating five 25 basis point cuts from the Bank to take its main rate to 4% by the end of the year, before a further 50 basis points of cuts to 3.5% in early 2025. This would still mean interest rates would exceed inflation through at least the next two years.
Victoria Clarke, U.K. chief economist at Santander CIB, said that, after last week's softer labor market figures, the inflation reading of Wednesday was a further indication that embedded risks have reduced and that inflation is on a path towards a sustainable return to target.
Loans Loans Latest News, Loans Loans Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »