(Bloomberg) — The Bank of England is expected to skip an interest-rate cut on Thursday, further slowing the once-a-quarter pace to policy easing that it’s maintained for more than a year.
Investors and economists expect the BOE’s Monetary Policy Committee to leave rates on hold at 4% with UK inflation running at almost double its 2% target and the autumn budget looming on Nov. 26.
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A vote for unchanged borrowing costs would end the pattern of reducing rates at every other BOE meeting since August 2024, and contrast with the US Federal Reserve, which loosened policy again on Wednesday.
The pause may be short-lived, though, with traders having ramped up bets on a December cut after weaker-than-expected inflation, jobs and output data. While investors still only see a small chance of a cut in the coming week, the prospect of a reduction on Dec. 18 has risen to almost 60%.
Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that the exact timing of the next rate cut is uncertain, not least because Thursday’s meeting comes just three weeks before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her crucial budget.
Reeves was blamed for fueling increases in food costs after increasing payroll taxes for employers in April. However, another round of hefty tax increases, potentially this time aimed at households, could act as a further dampener on a subdued economy.
What Bloomberg Economics Says:
“A slew of softer-than-expected data in recent weeks has created more uncertainty about the outcome of this wee’s meeting. A cut is possible, but with rates close to neutral and inflation still nearly double the BOE’s target, we think a hold is more likely. The central bank will also want to know the contours of the budget before delivering further easing. We remain of the view that rates won’t be cut again until the BOE sees a clear downtrend in the inflation data, likely by April. The risks are tilted toward an earlier reduction — either in February or possibly this December.”
—Dan Hanson and Ana Andrade, economists. For full preview, click here
Elsewhere, central banks from Australia to Sweden to Brazil are likely to keep rates on hold, while Mexican officials may deliver a cut. The US federal shutdown might continue to disrupt data releases there.