August 2024 marked a significant shift in the UK's monetary policy, as it saw the first reduction in the official bank base interest rate since August 2023. This change came after a period of consistent rate hikes that began in late 2021. In a bid to minimize the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bank of England cut the official bank base rate in March 2020 to a record low of *** percent. This historic low came just one week after the Bank of England cut rates from **** percent to **** percent in a bid to prevent mass job cuts in the United Kingdom. It remained at *** percent until December 2021 and was increased to one percent in May 2022 and to **** percent in October 2022. After that, the bank rate increased almost on a monthly basis, reaching **** percent in August 2023. It wasn't until August 2024 that the first rate decrease since the previous year occurred, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy. Why do central banks adjust interest rates? Central banks, including the Bank of England, adjust interest rates to manage economic stability and control inflation. Their strategies involve a delicate balance between two main approaches. When central banks raise interest rates, their goal is to cool down an overheated economy. Higher rates curb excessive spending and borrowing, which helps to prevent runaway inflation. This approach is typically used when the economy is growing too quickly or when inflation is rising above desired levels. Conversely, when central banks lower interest rates, they aim to encourage borrowing and investment. This strategy is employed to stimulate economic growth during periods of slowdown or recession. Lower rates make it cheaper for businesses and individuals to borrow money, which can lead to increased spending and investment. This dual approach allows central banks to maintain a balance between promoting growth and controlling inflation, ensuring long-term economic stability. Additionally, adjusting interest rates can influence currency values, impacting international trade and investment flows, further underscoring their critical role in a nation's economic health. Recent interest rate trends Between 2021 and 2025, most advanced and emerging economies experienced a period of regular interest rate hikes. This trend was driven by several factors, including persistent supply chain disruptions, high energy prices, and robust demand pressures. These elements combined to create significant inflationary trends, prompting central banks to raise rates to temper spending and borrowing. However, in 2024, a shift began to occur in global monetary policy. The European Central Bank (ECB) was among the first major central banks to reverse this trend by cutting interest rates. This move signaled a change in approach aimed at addressing growing economic slowdowns and supporting growth.

Graph and download economic data for U.S. / U.K. Foreign Exchange Rate in the United Kingdom (USUKFXUKM) from Jan 1791 to Jan 2017 about academic data, United Kingdom, exchange rate, and rate.

United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Australian Dollar data was reported at 1.747 AUD/GBP in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.790 AUD/GBP for Oct 2018. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Australian Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 2.061 AUD/GBP from Jan 1975 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 527 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.982 AUD/GBP in Sep 2001 and a record low of 1.294 AUD/GBP in Oct 1976. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Australian Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of England. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.M007: Foreign Exchange Rates.

Daily foreign exchange operations by the Bank of England between 1952 and 1995. Copied from manuscript records at the Bank of England archive. There is a "read me" tab with more details on the data. The data is linked to the following publication which you can cite if using the data Naef, Alain. 2022. An Exchange Rate History of the United Kingdom: 1945–1992. Studies in Macroeconomic History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/an-exchange-rate-history-of-the-united-kingdom/68B7E57D9884394B815C76D48ACD3FB6. If you just want to use the data to run econometrics or as a control variable, there is a ready to use tab with the plain simple data. If you do so, be aware that Black Wednesday (16 September 1992) is an outlier by many standard deviations. If you want to dig more, there are more granular forms of data. The licence is public domain, so no restrictions whatsoever.

United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: US Dollar data was reported at 1.291 USD/GBP in Nov 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.301 USD/GBP for Oct 2018. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: US Dollar data is updated monthly, averaging 1.624 USD/GBP from Jan 1975 (Median) to Nov 2018, with 527 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.419 USD/GBP in Mar 1975 and a record low of 1.093 USD/GBP in Feb 1985. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: US Dollar data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of England. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.M007: Foreign Exchange Rates.

Graph and download economic data for U.S. Dollars to U.K. Pound Sterling Spot Exchange Rate (DEXUSUK) from 1971-01-04 to 2025-11-28 about United Kingdom, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.

United Kingdom UK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index data was reported at 99.653 2010=100 in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 104.763 2010=100 for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index data is updated yearly, averaging 117.379 2010=100 from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2017, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 139.004 2010=100 in 1981 and a record low of 97.703 2010=100 in 2009. United Kingdom UK: Real Effective Exchange Rate Index data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Exchange Rates and Real Effective Exchange Rates. Real effective exchange rate is the nominal effective exchange rate (a measure of the value of a currency against a weighted average of several foreign currencies) divided by a price deflator or index of costs.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Real Broad Effective Exchange Rate for United Kingdom (RBGBBIS) from Jan 1994 to Oct 2025 about broad, United Kingdom, exchange rate, currency, real, and rate.

United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: Hong Kong data was reported at 10.197 HKD/GBP in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 10.237 HKD/GBP for Sep 2018. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: Hong Kong data is updated monthly, averaging 12.114 HKD/GBP from Jan 1977 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 502 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.101 HKD/GBP in Nov 2007 and a record low of 7.955 HKD/GBP in Mar 1977. United Kingdom Sterling Exchange Rate: Monthly Avg: Hong Kong data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bank of England. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.M007: Foreign Exchange Rates.

In September 2025, global inflation rates and central bank interest rates showed significant variation across major economies. Most economies initiated interest rate cuts from mid-2024 due to declining inflationary pressures. The U.S., UK, and EU central banks followed a consistent pattern of regular rate reductions throughout late 2024. In September 2025, Russia maintained the highest interest rate at 17 percent, while Japan retained the lowest at 0.5 percent. Varied inflation rates across major economies The inflation landscape varies considerably among major economies. China had the lowest inflation rate at -0.3 percent in September 2025. In contrast, Russia maintained a high inflation rate of 8 percent. These figures align with broader trends observed in early 2025, where China had the lowest inflation rate among major developed and emerging economies, while Russia's rate remained the highest. Central bank responses and economic indicators Central banks globally implemented aggressive rate hikes throughout 2022-23 to combat inflation. The European Central Bank exemplified this trend, raising rates from 0 percent in January 2022 to 4.5 percent by September 2023. A coordinated shift among major central banks began in mid-2024, with the ECB, Bank of England, and Federal Reserve initiating rate cuts, with forecasts suggesting further cuts through 2025 and 2026.

Compare UK interest rates and mortgage rates alongside house prices. Interactive charts showing the Bank of England base rate versus 2-year, 5-year, and SVR mortgage rates, with historical HPI trends.

United Kingdom UK: Official Exchange Rate: Average: per USD data was reported at 0.777 GBP/USD in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.741 GBP/USD for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Official Exchange Rate: Average: per USD data is updated yearly, averaging 0.568 GBP/USD from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.779 GBP/USD in 1985 and a record low of 0.357 GBP/USD in 1966. United Kingdom UK: Official Exchange Rate: Average: per USD data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Exchange Rates and Real Effective Exchange Rates. Official exchange rate refers to the exchange rate determined by national authorities or to the rate determined in the legally sanctioned exchange market. It is calculated as an annual average based on monthly averages (local currency units relative to the U.S. dollar).; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics.; ;

Mortgage rates surged at an unprecedented pace in 2022, with the average 10-year fixed rate doubling between March and December of that year. In response to mounting inflation, the Bank of England implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing borrowing costs steadily higher. By October 2025, the average 10-year fixed mortgage rate stood at **** percent. As financing becomes more expensive, housing demand has cooled, weighing on market sentiment and slowing house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold fell significantly in 2023, dipping to just above *** million transactions. This contraction in activity also dampened mortgage lending. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans declined year-on-year for five consecutive quarters. Even as rates eased modestly in 2024 and housing activity picked up slightly, volumes remained well below the highs recorded in 2021. How are higher mortgages impacting homebuyers? For homeowners, the impact is being felt most acutely as fixed-rate deals expire. Mortgage terms in the UK typically range from two to ten years, and many borrowers who locked in historically low rates are now facing significantly higher repayments when refinancing. By the end of 2026, an estimated five million homeowners will see their mortgage deals expire. Roughly two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026, putting additional pressure on household budgets and constraining affordability across the market.

This table contains 27 series, with data starting from 1981 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography (1 item: Canada) Type of currency (27 items: Australian dollar, monthly average; Brazilian real, monthly average; Chinese renminbi, monthly average; European euro, monthly average; ...).

Daily open, high, low, close and mid GBP/EUR rates with monthly and yearly summaries.

View market daily updates and historical trends for UK OIS 2 Year Yield. from United Kingdom. Source: Bank of England. Track economic data with YCharts an…

A central bank is the term used to describe the authority responsible for policies that affect a country’s supply of money and credit. More specifically, a central bank uses its tools of monetary policy—open market operations, discount window lending, changes in reserve requirements—to affect short-term interest rates and the monetary base (currency held by the public plus bank reserves) and to achieve important policy goals.

A ranked comparison of GBP to EUR all-in rates, fees and delivered amounts for common transfer amounts.

View market daily updates and historical trends for UK Gilt 2 Year Yield. from United Kingdom. Source: Bank of England. Track economic data with YCharts a…