Projected UK Interest Rates in 5 Years: Will BoE Policy Still Depend On Inflation?
What will UK interest rates be in 5 years?
- The Bank of England paused rate hikes for the fifth consecutive time in March.
- Only one member of the monetary policy committee voted do cut rates.
- Rates play a fundamental role in tackling high inflation.
- How do interest rates influence cryptocurrencies?
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the Bank of England opted to maintain interest rates at a 15-year high, marking the fifth consecutive meeting without a change. However, a notable shift in the voting makeup occurred, with one member of the Monetary Policy Committee voting to cut rates.
During its March meeting, the BoE kept the benchmark bank rate steady at 5.25%. This decision follows a series of holds since September, interrupting a streak of 14 consecutive rate hikes initiated in December 2021. The Bank had swiftly escalated the bank rate from its Covid-19-induced low of 0.10%.
Inflation Under Spotlight
There was a notable shift in the voting pattern, with eight members of the MPC opting to maintain interest rates unchanged, including previously hawkish members Jonathan Haskel and Catherine Mann, who no longer advocated for rate increases.
The members who voted to keep interest rates unchanged were Andrew Bailey, Sarah Breeden, Ben Broadbent, Megan Greene, Jonathan Haskel, Catherine Mann, Huw Pill, and Dave Ramsden. Swati Dhingra dissented, maintaining her stance for a 25-basis-point rate cut to 5%.
In the previous February meeting , six MPC members voted to maintain interest rates unchanged. Jonathan Haskel and Catherine Mann had argued for a 25-basis-point increase, while Swati Dhingra proposed a 25-basis-point cut, resulting in a two-six-one division.
In its statement , the BoE emphasized the necessity for monetary policy to remain restrictive until inflation returns to the 2% target sustainably in the medium term, aligning with the MPC’s mandate. The Committee has maintained its view since last autumn that a restrictive monetary policy stance is required for an extended period until the risk of inflation exceeding the 2% target diminishes.
The BoE acknowledged that headline CPI inflation has notably declined, attributing it to the “restrictive stance” of monetary policy impacting economic activity. However, it highlighted that key indicators of inflation persistence remain elevated.
BoE Shows A Dovish Tone
Michael Brown, Senior Research Strategist at Pepperstone , told CCN after the BoE’s decision: “The BoE produced few surprises this lunchtime, holding Bank Rate steady at 5.25%, as expected, though the decision did have more of a dovish tinge to it than that delivered in February.”
“While guidance that policy must remain ‘sufficiently restrictive for sufficiently long’ was maintained, the MPC are no longer as divided on the policy outlook, with the two hawks from last month now joining the majority of the MPC in voting for Bank Rate to be maintained,” he added.
Brown also commented Bailey’s words on how the UK economy is developing: “Bailey indicated that “things are moving in the right direction” in terms of the inflation outlook, and thus the ability to begin to normalise policy. Overall, the MPC remain in data-dependent mode, focusing primarily on services inflation and earnings pressures, though a June start to the easing cycle remains plausible, particularly with headline inflation likely to be back at the 2% target in spring.
Economic Data Slightly Improved
The central bank noted the ongoing effects of tighter monetary policy on the labor market and the overall momentum in the real economy. It said : “With a significant increase in the bank rate during this tightening cycle, the current monetary policy stance is deemed restrictive.
“The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will maintain a vigilant watch on signs of persistent inflationary pressures and the resilience of the economy as a whole.
“This includes assessing various factors such as labor market conditions, wage growth, and service price inflation. The aim is to maintain a sufficiently restrictive monetary policy for an extended period, ensuring a sustainable return of inflation to the 2% target over the medium term.”
The Bank of England also presented its latest monetary policy report, which outlines its economic outlook for the UK.
In the short term, the Bank revised its inflation expectations, with the “most likely” path predicting a fourth-quarter rate of 4.6%, a slight reduction from the 4.9% forecast in August. However, it raised its outlook for the fourth quarter of the following year to 3.1%, up from the previous 2.5%.
The return to below the 2% inflation target is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, although the inflation projection for that period was adjusted to 1.9% from the previous 1.6%.
The Bank of England said: “In the Monetary Policy Committee’s latest ‘most likely’ projection, taking into account the market-implied path for the bank rate, CPI inflation is projected to return to the 2% target by the end of 2025. Subsequently, it is expected to fall below the target, as increasing economic slack reduces domestic inflationary pressures.”
More recently, September’s data indicated that UK inflation remained unexpectedly resilient. The Office for National Statistics reported a 6.7% annual increase in consumer prices in September, matching the rate from August. This figure was higher than market forecasts, which had anticipated a cooling to 6.5% in September.
However, the September figure fell slightly below the BoE’s expectations. As a result, the BoE revised its expectations for gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
It lowered the fourth-quarter GDP forecast to 0.6%, down from the previous outlook of 0.9%. The projection for a year later now suggests GDP will remain flat, compared to the previous forecast of a 0.1% rise. For the fourth quarter of 2025, forecasts see growth to be 0.4%, slightly reduced from the earlier 0.5% estimate.
Inflation Slows In February
The consumer price index increased by 3.4% in February compared to the previous year, marking a slight slowdown from the 4.0% annual increase recorded in January.
Expectations were for a deceleration to 3.6%, according to market consensus cited by FXStreet, making the actual reading below projections.
In February, consumer prices rose by 0.6% compared to January, slightly lower than the anticipated 0.7% monthly increase. This follows a 0.6% decrease in prices observed in January compared to December.
The peak of UK inflation reached 11.1% in October 2022. Despite efforts to maintain a 2% inflation target, the current rate remains double that set by the Bank of England.
Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “UK inflation has made a bigger than expected jump down in its difficult descent, but it may still become stuck in the mud of viscous wage growth in the coming months. While this dramatic drop means inflation has hit the target promised by Rishi Sunak, it arguably not what the government has done but monetary policy driven by the Bank of England which is showing up in these figures.”
According to Streeter, the impact of pent-up demand from the pandemic has dwindled and supply shocks caused by the war in Ukraine have also eased off.
She said: “The energy price cap was cut in October, which as expected has fed directly into the figures, and the price of used cars has also fallen back. There’s also been an tailing off in the annual rate of food and non-alcoholic drink inflation. Prices rises for vegetables have eased considerably, falling from 14.4% to 10.8%. There is finally cheer for crisp lovers, with the snacks falling in price falling by 3.4% month on month. It’s enough to burst open a bag in celebration.”
But the party may have a short life. At 4.6%, inflation is more than double the Bank’s target. So, the prospect of cuts is still a very dim and distant hope. The Bank must get to grips with stopping domestically-fuelled inflation in its tracks and with wage growth stubborn, the higher for longer mantra is being repeated.
She added: “Although core inflation is heading in the right direction, falling 6.1% to 5.7%, risks remain. The Bank’s Chief Economist Huw Pill, speaking at the Festival of economics in Bristol said it would require “persistent restrictiveness” in policy so painful borrowing costs are set to linger. However, at this stage another interest rate rise looks unlikely given the Bank will want to wait for the lag effect of previous hikes to take effect.”
Introducing the Bank of England (BoE)
The Bank of England (BoE) is the central bank of the United Kingdom, with a history dating back to 1694. It is the second-oldest central bank globally, following Sweden’s Sveriges Riksbank.
Initially founded as a private bank to serve the government’s financial needs, the BoE received a royal charter from King William and Queen Mary in 1694. At that time, its primary mission was to raise £1.2 million in loans to finance the war against France.
Surprisingly, over 1,200 individuals from diverse backgrounds, including carpenters, grocers, merchants, doctors, knights, and even royalty, bought the bank’s shares, making them its inaugural shareholders. Notably, King William and Queen Mary themselves held shares in the bank.
As a central bank, the BoE’s primary objective is to maintain price stability by targeting an inflation rate of 2%. To achieve this, the BoE adjusts its key interest rate, as a tool to manage inflation.
The bank rate is determined by the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). It includes the governor, three deputy governors overseeing monetary policy, financial stability, and markets, and banking.
Additionally, there is a chief economist and four external members, appointed directly by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the second most significant cabinet member after the Prime Minister. MPC members serve fixed terms and can be replaced or reappointed. The committee convenes eight times a year, approximately once every six weeks, to decide on monetary policy actions.
Besides monetary policy, the BoE oversees banknote production, payment services, and regulates financial institutions. It also manages the UK’s gold reserves, holding about 400,000 gold bars in an impressive vault.
A Historical Glimpse at UK Interest Rates
A review of the Bank of England’s interest rate history reveals a significant shift in approach beginning in February 2008. The global financial crisis prompted this shift, as it originated in the United States with the housing market bubble in 2007. But it subsequently impacted the UK economy.
Throughout 2008, the BoE implemented five rate cuts, reducing the rate from 5.25% in February to 2% in December. This 2% rate marked the lowest level since the banking crises of the 1880s and 1890s, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It was also the lowest level since the Great Depression and World War II in the BoE’s interest rate history.
In 2020, the BoE made two rapid interest rate cuts on March 11 and 19. These moves drove the UK interest rates to an unprecedented low of 0.1%. This sharp reduction mirrored the emergency measures adopted by other central banks and governments worldwide to bolster their economies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Post-Pandemic Interest Rate Adjustment
The near-zero interest rate remained in effect until December 2021 , as the UK and other nations gradually reopened their economies. As the recovery gathered steam and inflation surged in tandem, the BoE increased the bank rate from 0.1% to 0.25% on December 16, 2021.
This marked the UK as the world’s first leading economy to raise its interest rates following the pandemic.
With the economy rebounding and commodity and energy prices soaring due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the BoE implemented eight rate hikes throughout 2022. By year-end, the bank rate had reached 3.5%.
In 2023, the UK central bank continued its tightening policy. It raised rates by 50 basis points (bps) to 4% in February. A 0.25% increase to 4.25% followed in March. And an additional 25 bps hike occurred in May, pushing the rate to 4.5%.
Post-Pandemic Pound Performance
The prospect of a more aggressive approach to interest rates by the Bank of England appears to be the primary reason for a rally that the pound began in April of this year. The markets are particularly attracted to the substantial coupon flows from British Gilts.
UK ten-year yields are among the highest in G10 countries, even competitive with Italian BTPs. The interest rate differential (30 basis points on Italian BTPs) is thus driving the British currency to its 2023 highs. The Bank of England is watching wage growth closely.
Market expectations suggest the possibility of three to four interest rate hikes, potentially reaching 5.75% by year-end. With wages already up 5.8% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2023, they might stabilize at 5.4% by year-end. The labor market shows no signs of slowing down, with unemployment still low at 3.8%.
Assessing the Peak of UK Inflation in 2022
Inflation is playing a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s key interest rate in the short to medium term.
In 2022, UK inflation accelerated, with the consumer price index (CPI) reaching a peak of 11.1% in October. Although it temporarily receded towards the end of the year, a surprise uptick to 10.4% in February occurred. Rising food and non-alcoholic drink costs have driven the increase. Subsequently, inflation eased to 10.1% in March.
Inflation, economic growth, and labor market conditions will shape the Bank of England’s interest rate decisions in the coming years.
UK Interest Rate Projections for the Next 5 Years
Given the substantial increase in the Bank Rate at the onset of this tightening cycle, the current monetary policy stance is notably restrictive. The outlook for GDP anticipates a period of relatively stagnant growth during the first half of the forecast period. Furthermore, growth will remain well below historical averages in the medium term. This is partly due to diminishing fiscal stimulus and subdued potential supply growth.
The BoE said: “Compared to our assessment in August, the GDP forecast has been revised downward to account for recent data indicating weaker-than-expected economic activity.”
The Committee has also decided, in this forecast, to somewhat reduce the magnitude of the previous demand-boosting judgement, while not entirely eliminating it, the BoE said.
In recent quarters, excess demand in the UK economy has decreased. Now, analysts expect a gradual increase in economic slack from the beginning of the next year. Unemployment will rise throughout the forecast period, possibly exceeding the Committee’s revised medium-term equilibrium estimate by year-end.
The bank said: “Additionally, uncertainties have arisen concerning the ONS’s official labor market activity data, primarily based on the Labour Force Survey. Therefore, the Committee continues to weigh insights from a variety of indicators.”
Following latest UK main economic indicators, the BoE sees an interest rate of 5.3% for the end of 2023. It expects a rate of 5.1% for 2024, one of 4.5% for 2025 and a rate of 4.2% for 2026.
The Impact of Interest Rates on Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, have exhibited remarkable resilience even in the face of rising interest rates. Notably, Bitcoin saw impressive growth, surging by 2,000% during the years 2015 and 2016. This was a period with increasing interest rates.
However, it’s essential to consider that elevated interest rates can have various effects on the cryptocurrency market. Persistent high inflation, rising gas prices, and increased energy costs due to higher interest rates may dampen risk appetite. They also pose challenges for cryptocurrencies, according to some experts.
Central Banks and Their Influence on Cryptocurrencies
Central banks play a pivotal role in shaping economic conditions by directly impacting money circulation and financial market stability.
Their ability to adjust interest rates directly affects borrowing rates for financial and banking institutions. In response to widespread inflation, major central banks like the Fed, ECB, and BoE have opted for interest rate hikes.
The increasingly intertwined relationship between cryptocurrencies and these macroeconomic and monetary shifts is worth noting. The decisions to increase interest rates, particularly by the Fed, have immediate consequences for the cryptocurrency markets.
In simpler terms, the more assertive stance taken by the Fed has cast uncertainty over cryptocurrencies. It influenced market sentiment as tighter monetary policies came into play.
Most central banks have raised interest rates, with a few exceptions. Simultaneously, Bitcoin’s value declined over the past year, highlighting the interaction between central bank actions and cryptocurrency markets.
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