Bank of England keeps rates unchanged but sees improving conditions for rate cuts in coming months

The Bank of England left interest rate unchanged at its 16-year high at 5.25%, in a widely expected decision, but signaled that improving economic conditions add to hopes for the start of cutting rates later this year.

The MPC members voted 8-1 for unchanged policy, which marks a significant change compared to the previous meeting, as two policymakers dropped their votes for a rate hike, signaling that further hikes are no more on the table and moving one step closer to the start of easing the monetary policy. 

BoE’s Governor Bailey said that Britain’s economy is moving in the right direction for the Bank of England to start cutting interest rates and added that there had been further encouraging signs that inflation is coming down, but BoE needed more certainty that price pressures were fully under control. 

Bailey added that things are moving in the right direction, although the central bank is not yet at the point where it can cut interest rates, implying that more action from the central bank could be expected in coming months.

Markets currently see a 76% chance for the first rate cut in June and expect total reduction of 75 basis points by December. 

The latest data showed that consumer price growth in Britain fell to its lowest in more than two years, further brightening the outlook for rate cuts, but the policymakers will remain cautious as key indicators of the persistence of inflation were still elevated and more moderation in wages and services prices is required before the decide to start cutting rates.