In 2024, the average inflation rate in the United Kingdom was approximately 2.53 percent. Between 1980 and 2024, the figure dropped by around 14.32 percentage points, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The inflation is forecast to decline by about 0.53 percentage points from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.This indicator measures inflation based upon the year-on-year change in the average consumer price index, expressed in percent. The latter expresses a country's average level of prices based on a typical basket of consumer goods and services.

In 2024, the annual inflation rate for the United Kingdom was 2.5 percent, with the average rate for 2025 predicted to rise to 3.2 percent, revised upwards from an earlier prediction of 2.6 percent. The UK has only recently recovered from a period of elevated inflation, which saw the CPI rate reach 9.1 percent in 2022, and 7.3 percent in 2023. Despite an uptick in inflation expected in 2025, the inflation rate is expected to fall to 2.1 percent in 2026, and two percent between 2027 and 2029. UK inflation crisis Between 2021 and 2023, inflation surged in the UK, reaching a 41-year-high of 11.1 percent in October 2022. Although inflation fell to more usual levels by 2024, prices in the UK had already increased by over 20 percent relative to the start of the crisis. The two main drivers of price increases during this time were food and energy inflation, two of the main spending areas of UK households. Although food and energy prices came down quite sharply in 2023, underlying core inflation, which measures prices rises without food and energy, remained slightly above the headline inflation rate throughout 2024, suggesting some aspects of inflation had become embedded in the UK economy. Inflation rises across in the world in 2022 The UK was not alone in suffering from runaway inflation over the last few years. From late 2021 onwards, various factors converged to encourage a global acceleration of prices, leading to the ongoing inflation crisis. Blocked-up supply chains were one of the main factors as the world emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by energy and food inflation skyrocketing after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Central bank interest rates were raised globally in response to the problem, possibly putting an end to the era of cheap money that has defined monetary policy since the financial crash of 2008.

Inflation Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 3.60 percent in June from 3.40 percent in May of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

After reaching a peak of 10.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, the CPI inflation rate in the United Kingdom has fallen considerably, and was 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024. In 2025, there is expected to be an uptick in inflation, with prices expected to be increasing by 3.7 percent in the third quarter of 2025, before falling to two percent by the second quarter of 2026. Inflation and the Cost of Living The high inflation experienced by the UK since late 2021 is one of the main factors behind the country's ongoing cost of living crisis. Price surges, in relation to food and energy costs in particular, played havoc with the finances of UK households. At the height of the crisis, around nine out of ten households were experiencing a cost of living increase compared to the previous month. Although inflation has eased since reaching a peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022, and wages are growing in real terms, approximately 59 percent of households were still experiencing rising costs relative to the previous month in March 2025. Economic growth downgraded for 2025 Since 2022, the economy has generally been the main issue for UK voters, seen by 51 percent of people as one of the top three issues facing the country in March 2025. Throughout this time, UK households have struggled through a cost of living crisis, while the wider economy has struggled to achieve consistent growth. Between the first quarter of 2022, the UK economy has alternated between periods of low growth and minor contractions, with the UK even in recession at the end of 2023. While there was a slight uptick in growth in 2024, this momentum appears to have already been lost, with the UK's economic growth forecast for 2025 recently downgraded from two percent to one percent.

Inflation is an important measure of any country’s economy, and the Retail Price Index (RPI) is one of the most widely used indicators in the United Kingdom, with the rate expected to be 4.1 percent in 2025, compared with 3.6 percent in 2024. This followed 2022, when RPI inflation reached a rate of 11.6 percent, by far the highest annual rate during this provided time period. CPI vs RPI Although the Retail Price Index is a commonly utilized inflation indicator, the UK also uses a newer method of calculating inflation, the Consumer Price Index. The CPI, along with the CPIH (Consumer Price Index including owner occupiers' housing costs) are usually preferred by the UK government, but the RPI is still used in certain instances. Increases in rail fares for example, are calculated using the RPI, while increases in pension payments are calculated using CPI, when this is used as the uprating factor. The use of one inflation measure over the other can therefore have a significant impact on people’s lives in the UK. High inflation falls to more typical levels by 2024 Like the Retail Price Index, the Consumer Price Index inflation rate also reached a recent peak in October 2022. In that month, prices were rising by 11.1 percent and did not fall below double figures until April 2023. This fall was largely due to slower price increases in key sectors such as energy, which drove a significant amount of the 2022 wave of inflation. Inflation nevertheless remains elevated, fueled not only by high food inflation, but also by underlying core inflation. As of February 2025, the overall CPI inflation rate was 2.8 percent, although an uptick in inflation is expected later in the year, with a rate of 3.7 percent forecast for the third quarter of the year.

Inflation Expectations in the United Kingdom increased to 4 percent in July from 3.90 percent in June of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Inflation Expectations- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Core consumer prices in the United Kingdom increased 3.70 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Core Inflation Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The UK inflation rate was 3.6 percent in June 2025, up from 3.4 percent in the previous month, and the fastest rate of inflation since January 2024. Between September 2022 and March 2023, the UK experienced seven months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. Due to this long period of high inflation, UK consumer prices have increased by over 20 percent in the last three years. As of the most recent month, prices were rising fastest in the communications sector, at 6.1 percent, but were falling in both the furniture and transport sectors, at -0.3 percent and -0.6 percent, respectively.
The Cost of Living Crisis High inflation is one of the main factors behind the ongoing Cost of Living Crisis in the UK, which, despite subsiding somewhat in 2024, is still impacting households going into 2025. In December 2024, for example, 56 percent of UK households reported their cost of living was increasing compared with the previous month, up from 45 percent in July, but far lower than at the height of the crisis in 2022. After global energy prices spiraled that year, the UK's energy price cap increased substantially. The cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers, reached 3,549 British pounds per year in October 2022, compared with 1,277 pounds a year earlier. Along with soaring food costs, high-energy bills have hit UK households hard, especially lower income ones that spend more of their earnings on housing costs. As a result of these factors, UK households experienced their biggest fall in living standards in decades in 2022/23. Global inflation crisis causes rapid surge in prices The UK's high inflation, and cost of living crisis in 2022 had its origins in the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the initial waves of the virus, global supply chains struggled to meet the renewed demand for goods and services. Food and energy prices, which were already high, increased further in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought an end to the era of cheap gas flowing to European markets from Russia. The war also disrupted global food markets, as both Russia and Ukraine are major exporters of cereal crops. As a result of these factors, inflation surged across Europe and in other parts of the world, but typically declined in 2023, and approached more usual levels by 2024.

Cost of food in the United Kingdom increased 4.50 percent in June of 2025 over the same month in the previous year. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Food Inflation - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Graph and download economic data for 5-Year Breakeven Inflation Rate (T5YIE) from 2003-01-02 to 2025-08-15 about spread, 5-year, interest rate, interest, inflation, rate, and USA.

Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.

Measures of monthly UK inflation data including CPIH, CPI and RPI. These tables complement the consumer price inflation time series dataset.

This dataset provides values for INFLATION RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The inflation rate for the Retail Price Index in the United Kingdom in the fourth quarter of 2022 reached **** percent, before falling in the subsequent quarters. The RPI rate in the fourth quarter of 2024 was *** percent, with an uptick expected in RPI inflation expected in 2025, peaking at *** percent in the third quarter of 2025.

In 2025, it is predicted that average earnings in the United Kingdom will increase by *** percent, compared with a growth rate of *** percent in 2024, and *** percent in 2023, the fastest average earnings growth in this time period. By contrast, average earnings did not grow at all in 2020, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Earnings vs inflation Although earnings grew at their fastest pace between 2021 and 2023 in this provided time period, this was offset by the period of very high inflation that occurred alongside it. This reached a peak of **** percent in October 2022, with inflation only reaching the typical target rate of *** percent in May 2024. Despite strong wage growth, the average UK worker saw their earnings fall relative to inflation between November 2021 and May 2023. As of January 2024, weekly wages in the UK were still growing faster than inflation, at *** percent for regular pay and *** percent for pay including bonuses. Full-time earnings reach over ****** GBP in 2024 Full-time employees in the United Kingdom earned an average annual salary of ****** British pounds in 2024, compared with just over ****** in the previous year. As of this year, men reported higher earnings than women did, with the UK reporting a gender pay gap of **** percent for 2024, compared with **** percent in 1997. Workers in their 40s had the highest average earnings by age group, at approximately ****** for men, and ****** for women. Although men earned more than women in all age groups, this gap was smallest among workers aged 18 to 21.

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Foreign Exchange Market Size 2025-2029

The foreign exchange market size is forecast to increase by USD 582 billion, at a CAGR of 10.6% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant shifts driven by the ongoing trend of urbanization and the increasing prevalence of digital technologies. These factors are expanding trading opportunities around the clock, enabling institutions and individuals to engage in foreign exchange transactions more frequently and efficiently. One significant trend is the increasing use of money transfer agencies, venture capital investments, and mutual funds in foreign exchange transactions. However, this market is not without challenges. The uncertainty surrounding future exchange rates poses a significant obstacle for market participants.
As urbanization continues to reshape economies and societies, and digital technologies enable round-the-clock trading, companies must adapt to capitalize on opportunities and navigate challenges in the dynamic foreign exchange landscape. Effective risk management strategies and agile business models will be essential for success in this evolving market.

What will be the Size of the Foreign Exchange Market during the forecast period?

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The market, also known as Forex, is a dynamic and ever-evolving financial landscape where various sectors converge to facilitate the exchange of currencies. Algorithmic trading systems play a significant role in this market, utilizing complex models to analyze position sizing and execute trades at optimal times. Liquidity provision services ensure seamless transactions by providing access to deep forex market depth and order book dynamics. Currency pair correlation, a fundamental concept in Forex, influences trading strategies. For instance, during periods of high correlation between the EUR/USD and GBP/USD pairs, traders may employ diversification strategies using portfolio management tools.
Technical indicators analysis and stop-loss order placement are essential components of risk management techniques. Brokerage commission fees and transaction cost analysis are critical factors in the forex market microstructure. Electronic trading networks and currency trading platforms facilitate efficient order execution, with order book dynamics and trading platform latency influencing spread compression methods and slippage mitigation. Fundamental economic data, exchange rate volatility, and currency hedging methods contribute to the market's complexity. The global payment systems sector integrates with Forex, enabling international money transfer and market impact measurement. Forex trading strategies encompass various approaches, including swing trading, high-frequency trading, and scalping techniques.
Derivatives pricing models and hedging strategies options offer risk management solutions. The ongoing unfolding of market activities and evolving patterns necessitate continuous adaptation and innovation. For example, a trader might employ a hedging strategy using options to mitigate risk during periods of increased exchange rate volatility. According to recent industry reports, the Forex market is projected to grow by 5% annually, underlining its significance in the global financial landscape.

How is this Foreign Exchange Industry segmented?

The foreign exchange industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Type

  Reporting dealers
  Financial institutions
  Non-financial customers


Trade Finance Instruments

  Currency swaps
  Outright forward and FX swaps
  FX options


Trading Platforms

  Electronic Trading
  Over-the-Counter (OTC)
  Mobile Trading


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    Germany
    Switzerland
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Type Insights

The reporting dealers segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The market is a dynamic and complex ecosystem where various entities interact to facilitate the trading of currencies. Algorithmic trading systems and position sizing models help market participants make informed decisions based on market data and trends. Liquidity provision services play a crucial role in maintaining market stability by absorbing imbalances, with providers earning returns reflecting associated risks. Currency pair correlation and technical indicators analysis are essential tools for forecasting price movements and identifying trends. Slippage mitigation and brokerage commission fees are critical concerns for traders, while electronic trading networks

In 2024, the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United Kingdom grew by *** percent and is expected to grow by just *** percent in 2025 and by *** percent in 2026. Growth is expected to slow down to *** percent in 2027, and then grow by ***, and *** percent in 2027 and 2028 respectively. The sudden emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 and subsequent closure of large parts of the economy were the cause of the huge *** percent contraction in 2020, with the economy recovering somewhat in 2021, when the economy grew by *** percent. UK growth downgraded in 2025 Although the economy is still expected to grow in 2025, the *** percent growth anticipated in this forecast has been halved from *** percent in October 2024. Increased geopolitical uncertainty as well as the impact of American tariffs on the global economy are some of the main reasons for this mark down. The UK's inflation rate for 2025 has also been revised, with an annual rate of *** percent predicated, up from *** percent in the last forecast. Unemployment is also anticipated to be higher than initially thought, with the annual unemployment rate likely to be *** percent instead of *** percent. Long-term growth problems In the last two quarters of 2023, the UK economy shrank by *** percent in Q3 and by *** percent in Q4, plunging the UK into recession for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before that last recession, however, the UK economy has been struggling with weak growth. Although growth since the pandemic has been noticeably sluggish, there has been a clear long-term trend of declining growth rates. The economy has consistently been seen as one of the most important issues to people in Britain, ahead of health, immigration and the environment. Achieving strong levels of economic growth is one of the main aims of the Labour government elected in 2024, although after almost one year in power it has so far proven elusive.

In May 2025, the UK inflation rate was 3.6 percent, with prices rising fastest in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels sector, which had an inflation rate of 7.8 percent. In this month, prices were rising in all sectors, with prices rising at the slowest pace in the clothing and footwear sector. UK inflation falls in 2024 After reaching a peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022, the CPI inflation rate in the UK gradually declined over several months, falling to a low of 1.7 percent by August 2024. An uptick in inflation has occurred since that month, however, and by the end of the year, inflation was at 2.5 percent above the Bank of England's target rate of two percent. Going into 2025, recent forecasts suggest that over the course of the year, inflation will average out at 2.6 percent, with the two percent target not met on an annual basis until at least 2029. Roots of the inflation crisis This long period of high inflation that the UK and much of the world experienced had its roots in the post-pandemic economic recovery of 2021. During that year, as consumer demand returned, global supply chains struggled to return to full capacity, resulting in prices rising. With inflation already elevated going into 2022, Russia's invasion of Ukraine added even more inflationary pressures to the global economy. European markets which were heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas gradually phased out hydrocarbons from their economies. Food prices were also heavily impacted due to Ukraine's difficulty in exporting its agricultural products.

Services producer price inflation (SPPI) records showing higher, lower and equal to quarterly service Producer Price Index movements for selected UK services sectors.