When will UK interest rates fall further? Latest Bank of England predictions

Interest rates may be more likely to come down when the Bank of England (BoE) sets rates in December, with future economic data as well as the Autumn Budget likely to inform the decision.

Inflation held steady at 3.8% in September, unchanged from the month before and lower than the 4% expected by the BoE, whose recent forecasts expected September to mark the peak month for inflation.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) narrowly voted to hold UK interest rates at 4% at its 6 November meeting.

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While the MPC expects inflation to fall to 3.2% by March 2026, it does not expect inflation to fall to its 2% target level until 2027.

Alongside cooling inflation, the UK economy is weakening. Unemployment hit its highest level since 2021 in the three months to September, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with wage growth slowing to 4.6% during the same period (down from 4.7% in the three months to August).

That data “should give the MPC more confidence to cut Bank Rate further by year-end,” said Sanjay Raja, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank. “There’s more slack building in the labour market – and perhaps more so than assumed by the MPC in its November projections.”

A tough tightrope for the Bank of England

The Bank of England has a tough tightrope to walk when deciding the timing and extent of future rate cuts. It needs to support growth while simultaneously bringing inflation under control. Cutting rates could boost the economy, but it could also allow inflation to rise further.

Increasingly, there are signs that the MPC is divided on how to balance these objectives. At November’s meeting, the decision to hold rates at 4% was carried by a narrow 5-4 majority, with Bailey apparently holding the deciding vote between doves who favour interest rate cuts to boost the economy, and hawks who favour higher rates in order to control inflation.

Robert Wood, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, views the MPC’s latest decision as “the prudent course of action… in the face of inflation nearly double its target, elevated inflation expectations, and a major Budget due ahead of its next meeting”.

The Autumn Budget is the great unknown as far as the MPC is concerned. Last year’s Budget included measures such as an increase to employer’s National Insurance that many economists viewed as inflationary.

This time around, it looks as though Reeves is set to increase taxes, potentially breaching manifesto commitments in doing so.

While tax rises would be unpopular and could stifle the economic growth the chancellor is seeking, they might also prove disinflationary – which would strengthen the hand of doves on the MPC pushing for interest rate cuts.

Either way, the MPC – which has so far stressed caution in its approach to lowering interest rates – ought to be much better-informed by the time of its December meeting than it was in November.

“Rate-setters will have two labour market and inflation releases by December,” said Wood, prior to the first of these labour market releases on 11 November. “We are comfortable sticking to our call for a December rate cut,” he added, though he conceded that he is less confident about what the MPC’s approach will be after then.

What do falling interest rates mean for mortgages?

A drop in interest rates generally translates into cheaper mortgages. The average two-year fixed-rate mortgage deal is currently 4.92%, while the average five-year deal is 4.98% (as of 10 November), according to Moneyfacts.

This is cheaper than a month ago and significantly cheaper than this time two years ago. At its peak in August 2023, the average two-year rate was 6.85% and the average five-year rate was 6.37%, according to Moneyfacts.

This is good news for those coming to the end of a two-year fix. A drop in average mortgage rates from 6.07% to 4.99% roughly equates to a £258 drop in monthly repayments for someone with £400,000 of borrowing. These calculations assume a total mortgage term of 25 years, and are based on figures we plugged into MoneyHelper’s mortgage calculator.

Things don’t look so good for those coming to the end of a relatively cheap five-year deal agreed before rates started rising in 2021. Their monthly repayments are likely to jump when they refinance.

Around 1.6 million fixed-rate deals are due to come to an end in 2025, according to trade association UK Finance.

What do falling interest rates mean for savings?

Some of the top savings deals have disappeared over the past 18 months, first in anticipation of base rate cuts and then in response to them. A combination of rate cuts and rising inflation means savers are being squeezed on both sides when looking for inflation-beating savings accounts.

The Moneyfacts Average Savings rate fell from 3.43% on 7 October to 3.41% on 7 November, and it is now at its lowest level in more than two years. The average savings rate is also currently below the rate of inflation (3.8%).

Dig deeper into the different types of account on offer – easy access, notice and fixed savings accounts and cash ISAs – all are now paying less than 4% on average. In fact, only around one in four accounts pays better than 4%, which is also the current level of the Bank of England Base Rate.

“It means money left sitting in low-paying accounts is losing value in real terms. It is essential that savers take the initiative and shop around to secure the best return on their hard-earned savings,” said Adam French, head of news at Moneyfacts.

If you are happy to lock up your cash for a year or so, it could make sense to fix your savings to get guaranteed higher rates. The leading one-year fixed rate is currently with Monument Bank, which is offering 4.47% AER interest. You’ll need a minimum deposit of £25,000 to open an account, though. Savers can open an account paying 4.46% with LHV Bank with a minimum deposit of £1,000.

See our round-up of the best easy-access rates, one-year savings accounts, regular saver accounts and cash ISAs for the latest deals on cash savings.

Those with a longer horizon ahead of them could consider investing some of their savings. A diversified portfolio of investments typically outperforms cash over the long run, but a minimum horizon of five years is generally recommended. We take a closer look in our guide on saving versus investing.

What do falling interest rates mean for annuities?

Annuities are a way of turning your pension pot into a guaranteed income for life. You buy an annuity by using some or all of your pension savings.

How much income you get in exchange for your pot depends on annuity rates. These are linked to UK government bond yields, which are in turn linked to the Bank of England base rate. A cut in interest rates generally translates into a fall in annuity rates.

As interest rates rose from 2022, the annuity market experienced a period of unprecedented strength. At the moment, annuity incomes are hovering near all-time highs.

“Those considering an annuity can still take advantage of the current competitive rate environment,” said Nick Flynn, retirement income director at Canada Life UK following the latest MPC meeting.

Recent data from Hargreaves Lansdown’s annuity search engine shows a 65-year-old with a £100,000 pension can get up to £7,793 per year from a single-life level annuity with a five-year guarantee.

These incomes have led to a revival in a market that was once very much relegated to the sidelines, with last year proving a bumper year for sales.