Price pressures hit firms amid uncertain outlook and fears of interest rate hikes Economics Firms’ inflation expectations for the next 12 months rose higher, according to closely watched Bank of England survey, the results of which could pile pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates. The Bank’s monthly survey of firms’ price expectations, the Decision Makers’ Panel, showed price expectations becoming more jittery as costs from the energy price [...]
UK bank lending growth to fall to three-year low Banking Growth in UK bank lending is forecast to stall in the coming years as borrowers feel the pinch of uncertain economic conditions. Lending growth is expected to slow this year to 2.9 per cent before dropping to a three-year low of 2.2 per cent in 2027, according to figures from EY. The figures mark a [...]
Bailey calls for greater AI testing as risks to economy rise Economics Andrew Bailey has called on governments to ramp up testing on frontier AI models before they are launched to the public, warning that advanced artificial intelligence posed sophisticated threats to the banking, markets and payments systems. In the first of a series of letters on the fledgling technology, the governor of the Bank of England [...]
Bank of England’s Taylor: No need for interest rate hike September 30, 2026 Bank of England official Alan Taylor has downplayed the need to raise interest rates in the face of the looming energy crisis, saying he saw no evidence that price rises from an initial jump in fuel costs were filtering into the wider economy. External Monetary Policy Committee member said the case for rate hikes was [...]
‘Uncharted territory’: UK economy facing shocks as diesel and borrowing costs surge September 28, 2026 The UK economy entered “uncharted territory” on Monday battling an assortment of financial pressures as fears intensified ahead of the next Budget. Diesel costs surged to a record high of 199.18p per litre marking the latest energy shock on the UK economy. Stations were registered as charging 199.18p per litre, according to the RAC. The [...]
Andrew Bailey sends warning as officials say interest rate hikes ‘increasingly likely’ September 25, 2026 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has said that it will become “harder” to leave interest rates on hold if energy prices remain higher for longer. At an event in Oxford on Friday, the Bank of England chief indicated that interest rates would have to be raised from 3.75 per cent if oil and gas [...]
Consumer confidence hits two-year high but ‘could soon falter’ September 25, 2026 Consumer confidence has surged to a two-year high in a surprise rise which will hand a much-needed boost to Andy Burnham ahead of the Budget – but experts have warned that momentum could soon run out. GfK’s closely-watched consumer confidence barometer rose to -13 in September, a rise of about one point since last month [...]
Healey plan to slash headroom would ‘not be received well’ by nervous bond market September 24, 2026 John Healey’s reported plans to slash the breathing space the government has before it breaks its spending rules would spark a negative bond market reaction and lead investors to question the country’s commitment to fiscal credibility. Bond traders told City AM that any attempt to significantly reduce its so-called fiscal headroom would leave the country [...]
Is Carney’s European dream pure fantasy? September 23, 2026 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is making a bold punt for European "integration", but it risks being a fairytale, writes Tim Focas.
Explainer: What on Earth has the Bank of England done with its bond sale programme? September 18, 2026 The Bank of England chose to hold interest rates at 3.75 per cent on Thursday. But its unexpected overhaul of quantitative tightening could be far more consequential, says Ali Lyon. On days when the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee decides the future of interest rates, that choice – and the thinking that goes into [...]