Economic Indicators

UK inflation holds at 2.2% in August as BoE considers rates

2024.09.18 02:38

LONDON (Reuters) -British inflation stood at an annual rate of 2.2% in August, unchanged from July, but price growth in the services sector – closely watched by the Bank of England – picked up, official figures showed on Wednesday.

A Reuters poll of economists had forecast annual consumer price inflation would remain at 2.2%.

The BoE, which cut interest rates to 5% on Aug. 1, had expected inflation of 2.4% in August before rising to around 2.75% by the end of this year.

The British central bank is due to announce its latest decision on interest rates on Thursday.

“Years of sky-high inflation have taken their toll; and prices are still much higher than four years ago,” Darren Jones, a junior minister at the Treasury, said, adding that more manageable inflation was welcome.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A woman buys fruits and vegetables at the local market in Brighton, Britain, June 28, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso/File photo

Services inflation – an indicator of domestic price pressures – rose to 5.6% from 5.2% in July. The Reuters poll had pointed to a smaller rise to 5.5%.

Sterling strengthened against the dollar immediately after the inflation data was published.



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