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TMI BlogBank of England halves UK growth projection, cuts main interest rate to 4.50%X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... Bank of England halves UK growth projection, cuts main interest rate to 4.50% X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... quarter of a percentage point to 4.50 per cent, taking it to its lowest level since mid-2023. That decision was widely expected in financial markets. What wasn't expected was the scale of the growth downgrade in the bank's accompanying economic forecasts. The bank now predicts that the British economy will only grow by 0.75 per cent this year, down from its previous forecast of 1.5 per cent just ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... three months ago. If that turns out to be remotely accurate, it will be hugely disappointing news for the UK's new Labour government, which has made growth its number one mission as it will boost living standards and generate funds for cash-starved public services. With growth proving elusive, the party's popularity has fallen sharply since its election victory. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves, ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... who faced criticism for raising taxes on business in her first budget last October, welcomed the interest rate cut but said she was “still not satisfied with the growth rate” and that the government will go “faster to kickstart economic growth.” The government will no doubt be hoping that the central bank helps it out by cutting interest rates further over coming months as it will contribute to l ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ower mortgage rates and cheaper loans, though reducing the returns offered to savers. Financial markets remain uncertain as to how many additional reductions there will be this year as the bank is also forecasting higher than anticipated inflation over the coming few months. Bank Gov. Andrew Bailey was careful not to provide much of a steer. “We'll be monitoring the UK economy and global develo ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... pments very closely and taking a gradual and careful approach to reducing rates further," Baily said. "Low and stable inflation is the foundation of a healthy economy and it's the Bank of England's job to ensure that." The latest rate cut reflects some concern about the outlook for the British economy, which has barely grown over the past six months. As does the fact that two of the nine member ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... s of the panel voted for an even bigger reduction of half a percentage point to 4.25 per cent. Luke Bartholomew, deputy chief economist at abrdn, formerly Aberdeen Asset Management, said the fact two did vote for a bigger cut “gives a sense of how concerned some policymakers are about the headwinds to growth.” The rate-setting panel doesn't directly target growth as its remit is to ensure that i ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... nflation, as measured by the consumer prices index, hits a 2 per cent target over the coming couple years or so. However, lower growth can keep inflation in check as it is an indication of lower demand in the economy. Though inflation is standing at 2.5 per cent and expected to rise in coming months, partly as a result of business tax increases from the new Labour government, most economists thin ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... k it will then trend lower towards the target, hence the panel's ability to cut on Thursday. Inflation is way down from levels seen a couple of years ago, partly because central banks have dramatically increased borrowing costs from near zero during the coronavirus pandemic. Prices then began to shoot up, first as a result of supply chain issues and later because of Russia's full-scale invasion ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... of Ukraine, which pushed energy costs higher.
As inflation rates have declined from multidecade highs, central banks, including the US Federal Reserve have started cutting interest rates, though few, if any, economists think that rates will fall back to the super-low levels that persisted in the years after the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 and during the pandemic. (AP) GSP X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ess release - PIB ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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