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 2024, 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 in an effort 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.

United Kingdom UK: Real Interest Rate data was reported at -1.195 % pa in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of -1.378 % pa for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Real Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 1.802 % pa from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2014, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.438 % pa in 1985 and a record low of -12.172 % pa in 1975. United Kingdom UK: Real Interest Rate 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: Interest Rates. Real interest rate is the lending interest rate adjusted for inflation as measured by the GDP deflator. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files using World Bank data on the GDP deflator.; ;

Between January 2018 and May 2025, the United Kingdom's consumer price inflation rate showed notable volatility. The rate hit its lowest point at *** percent in August 2020 and peaked at *** percent in October 2022. By September 2024, inflation had moderated to *** percent, but the following months saw inflation increase again. The Bank of England's interest rate policy closely tracked these inflationary trends. Rates remained low at -* percent until April 2020, when they were reduced to *** percent in response to economic challenges. A series of rate increases followed, reaching a peak of **** percent from August 2023 to July 2024. The central bank then initiated rate cuts in August and November 2024, lowering the rate to **** percent, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy. In February 2025, the Bank of England implemented another rate cut, setting the bank rate at *** percent, which was further reduced to **** percent in May 2025. Global context of inflation and interest rates The UK's experience reflects a broader international trend of rising inflation and subsequent central bank responses. From January 2022 to July 2024, advanced and emerging economies alike increased their policy rates to counter inflationary pressures. However, a shift began in late 2024, with many countries, including the UK, starting to lower rates. This change suggests a potential new phase in the global economic cycle and monetary policy approach. Comparison with other major economies The UK's monetary policy decisions align closely with those of other major economies. The United States, for instance, saw its federal funds rate peak at **** percent in August 2023, mirroring the UK's rate trajectory. Similarly, central bank rates in the EU all increased drastically between 2022 and 2024. These synchronized movements reflect the global nature of inflationary pressures and the coordinated efforts of central banks to maintain economic stability. As with the UK, both the U.S. and EU began considering rate cuts in late 2024, signaling a potential shift in the global economic landscape.

Key information about United Kingdom Policy Rate

• United Kingdom cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Base Rate) was set at 4.50 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.75 % pa in the previous Jan 2025.
• UK Policy Rate averaged 5.75 % pa and is updated monthly, available from Jun 1972 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 17.00 % pa in Jun 1980 and a record low of 0.10 % pa in Nov 2021.

• In the latest reports, UK Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: ICE LIBOR: 3 Months was reported at 0.09 % pa in Apr 2021.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Long Term Interest Rate: Month Avg: United Kingdom: ECB Harmonised ) was reported at 4.67 % pa in Jan 2025.
• UK Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.79 (USD/GBP) in Jun 2023.
• Its Real Effective Exchange Rate was 87.74 in Jan 2025.

United Kingdom UK: Lending Interest Rate data was reported at 0.500 % pa in 2014. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.500 % pa for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Lending Interest Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 6.963 % pa from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2014, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.313 % pa in 1980 and a record low of 0.500 % pa in 2014. United Kingdom UK: Lending Interest Rate 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: Interest Rates. Lending rate is the bank rate that usually meets the short- and medium-term financing needs of the private sector. This rate is normally differentiated according to creditworthiness of borrowers and objectives of financing. The terms and conditions attached to these rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.; ;

Mortgage rates increased at a record pace in 2022, with the 10-year fixed mortgage rate doubling between March 2022 and December 2022. With inflation increasing, the Bank of England introduced several bank rate hikes, resulting in higher mortgage rates. In May 2025, the average 10-year fixed rate interest rate reached **** percent. As borrowing costs get higher, demand for housing is expected to decrease, leading to declining market sentiment and slower house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold declined in 2023, reaching just above *** million. Despite the number of transactions falling, this figure was higher than the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. The falling transaction volume also impacted mortgage borrowing. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans fell year-on-year for five straight quarters in a row. How are higher mortgages affecting homebuyers? Homeowners with a mortgage loan usually lock in a fixed rate deal for two to ten years, meaning that after this period runs out, they need to renegotiate the terms of the loan. Many of the mortgages outstanding were taken out during the period of record-low mortgage rates and have since faced notable increases in their monthly repayment. About **** million homeowners are projected to see their deal expire by the end of 2026. About *** million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026.

United Kingdom UK: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate data was reported at 0.120 % pa in 2014. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.199 % pa for 2013. United Kingdom UK: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 0.280 % pa from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2014, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.995 % pa in 1972 and a record low of -2.372 % pa in 1974. United Kingdom UK: Risk Premium on Lending: Lending Rate Minus Treasury Bill Rate 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: Interest Rates. Risk premium on lending is the interest rate charged by banks on loans to private sector customers minus the 'risk free' treasury bill interest rate at which short-term government securities are issued or traded in the market. In some countries this spread may be negative, indicating that the market considers its best corporate clients to be lower risk than the government. The terms and conditions attached to lending rates differ by country, however, limiting their comparability.; ; International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics database.; ;

Key information about United Kingdom Short Term Interest Rate

• United Kingdom Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: ICE LIBOR: 3 Months was reported at 0.09 % pa in Apr 2021, compared with 0.09 % pa in the previous month.
• UK Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1986 to Apr 2021.
• The data reached an all-time high of 15.38 % pa in Apr 1990 and a record low of 0.03 % pa in Dec 2020.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by ICE Benchmark Administration.

• In the latest reports, UK Long Term Interest Rate: Month Avg: United Kingdom: ECB Harmonised was reported at 3.95 % pa in May 2023.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Base Rate) was set at 4.50 % pa in May 2023.
• UK Exchange Rate against USD averaged 0.80 (USD/GBP) in May 2023.

From 2003 to 2025, the central banks of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union exhibited remarkably similar interest rate patterns, reflecting shared global economic conditions. In the early 2000s, rates were initially low to stimulate growth, then increased as economies showed signs of overheating prior to 2008. The financial crisis that year prompted sharp rate cuts to near-zero levels, which persisted for an extended period to support economic recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to further rate reductions to historic lows, aiming to mitigate economic fallout. However, surging inflation in 2022 triggered a dramatic policy shift, with the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank significantly raising rates to curb price pressures. As inflation stabilized in late 2023 and early 2024, the ECB and Bank of England initiated rate cuts by mid-2024, and the Federal Reserve also implemented its first cut in three years, with forecasts suggesting a gradual decrease in all major interest rates between 2025 and 2026. Divergent approaches within the European Union While the ECB sets a benchmark rate for the Eurozone, individual EU countries have adopted diverse strategies to address their unique economic circumstances. For instance, Hungary set the highest rate in the EU at 13 percent in September 2023, gradually reducing it to 6.5 percent by October 2024. In contrast, Sweden implemented more aggressive cuts, lowering its rate to 2.25 percent by February 2025, the lowest among EU members. These variations highlight the complex economic landscape that European central banks must navigate, balancing inflation control with economic growth support. Global context and future outlook The interest rate changes in major economies have had far-reaching effects on global financial markets. Government bond yields, for example, reflect these policy shifts and investor sentiment. As of December 2024, the United States had the highest 10-year government bond yield among developed economies at 4.59 percent, while Switzerland had the lowest at 0.27 percent. These rates serve as important benchmarks for borrowing costs and economic expectations worldwide.

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 UK: Money Market Rate data was reported at 0.299 % pa in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.392 % pa for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Money Market Rate data is updated yearly, averaging 5.373 % pa from Dec 1969 (Median) to 2016, with 48 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.377 % pa in 1980 and a record low of 0.299 % pa in 2016. United Kingdom UK: Money Market Rate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Monetary Fund. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.IMF.IFS: Money Market and Policy Rates: Annual.

The interest rate for credit cards in the UK grew to an all-time high in May 2025, even though the base rate for the Bank of England grew at a slower pace that month. Credit card interest rates tend to be significantly higher than other forms of lending, and the United Kingdom is no exception to this. By May 2025, the average interest rate had increased to ***** percent. The Bank of England base rate stood at **** percent since April 2025 – which was not yet the highest value observed. Nevertheless, the central bank's interest rate grew slower than that of credit cards.

Rates of return and revision tables of UK private non-financial corporations by quarter.

Bank Lending Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 8.58 percent in May. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Prime Lending Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Interest rates in the UK spiked in 2022 and 2023, with the average rate for new mortgage advances to individuals and individual trusts rising by 3.61 percentage points between January 2022 and January 2024. Mortgages on a floating interest rate were the most expensive as of January 2024, at 5.75 percent. On the other hand, the average rate for new advances with a five-year fixed rate was 4.88 percent.

The interest rates of most types of personal loans in the United Kingdom (UK) have increased slightly in 2024. However, the interest rates applied to personal loans of 3,000 British pounds were slightly lower than in the previous year, amounting to ***** percent. Smaller personal loans had, in general, higher interest rates than bigger loans.

Private rent price statistics, including indices, annual percentage change and price levels.

Graph and download economic data for Interest Rates: Long-Term Government Bond Yields: 10-Year: Main (Including Benchmark) for United Kingdom (IRLTLT01GBM156N) from Jan 1960 to Jun 2025 about long-term, 10-year, United Kingdom, bonds, yield, government, interest rate, interest, and rate.