Inflation
BoE increases QE to £875bn but avoids negative interest rates
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted unanimously to increase its purchase of UK government bonds by £150bn and to maintain rates at 0.1%, shunning rumours of a move towards negative interest rates.
Lifetime allowance to rise to £1.078m in line with 0.5% inflation
The lifetime allowance is set to rise to £1,078,900 from April next year in line with the 0.5% inflation figure.
Federal Reserve: No interest rate hikes until end of 2023
The US Federal Reserve sent out "strong, powerful guidance" on Wednesday (16 September), as it predicted interest rates would stay near zero until at least the end of 2023.
Interest rate and inflation hedging hits £83.1bn in Q2
Pension schemes significantly heightened their interest rate and inflation risk hedging in the second quarter of the year, according to BMO Global Asset Management.
Negative interest rate debate becomes 'very real' as UK inflation plunges to 0.8%
The debate concerning negative interests in the UK has now become “very real” after the UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) 12-month inflation rate dipped to 0.8% in April from 1.5% in March, recording its lowest reading since August 2016 and putting it on...
Could coronavirus infect the Consumer Prices Index?
Covid-19 has presented the ONS with significant problems calculating inflation during lockdown. Latest Institute for Fiscal Studies research examines the challenges faced.
UK CPI inflation falls to lowest level in two years at 1.5%
The UK’s consumer prices index (CPI) has fallen to its lowest level since November 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Tougher audit stance leading to 'bunched' discount rates
FTSE 350 defined benefit (DB) schemes are "bunching" around an average discount rate of 2.8% due to higher yields and a tougher stance from auditors, Hymans Robertson research finds.
UK inflation hits 2.1% but monetary policy remains slave to Brexit
A rise in UK inflation back above the Bank of England's 2% target rate will not change the thinking of its Monetary Policy Committee with regards to interest rates, experts have said.
UK inflation remains below target at 1.9% in March
UK inflation unexpectedly remained below target for the third month in a row in March, as higher fuel prices were offset by the falling prices of food and computer games.
Inflation edges up to 1.9% on higher food prices
Inflation in the UK rose slightly in February to 1.9% on the back of higher food prices, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Government must commit to one indexation measure, says Lords committee
The UK Statistics Authority's (UKSA) "refusal" to fix a long-standing error in the retail prices index (RPI) is "untenable" and demonstrates a need to commit to one measure of inflation.
Inflation nears two-year low as December CPI falls to 2.1%
UK inflation fell from 2.3% to 2.1% in December, approaching its lowest rate for two years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Eight Budget announcements for the pensions industry to note
Philip Hammond's 2018 Budget speech was entirely devoid of any mention of pensions, but the documents do include some things for the industry to take note of. Professional Pensions rounds up the eight key Budget plans and shortcomings.
Budget: Public sector schemes to move to CPIH 'when and where practicable'
The government will gradually adopt a version of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) which incorporates housing costs for pension funds and index-linked gilts, it confirmed today.
Lifetime allowance to rise to £1.05m as inflation falls to 2.4%
The lifetime allowance will rise to £1,054,800 from April next year as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded inflation at 2.4% in the year to September.
Feeling the pinch: UK inflation on the rise
UK inflation hit a six-month high of 2.7% in September, having held steady earlier this year. The rise is not good news for consumers - slowing the recovery in spending power.
Sterling spikes as inflation beats expectations to hit six-month high of 2.7%
UK inflation unexpectedly rose to 2.7% in August, beating analysts' expectations of a drop to 2.4% from 2.5% the previous month.
Hammond open to RPI reform but up to 'ONS to initiate'
Chancellor Philip Hammond has said he would be happy to hear about reforming the retail prices index (RPI) as long as the Office of National Statistics (ONS) initiates discussions.
Inflation sees first rise since November to 2.5%
UK inflation has risen for the first time since November to 2.5% in July, up from 2.4% in June, thanks to rising fuel costs and the price of computer games.
'The reliable boyfriend delivers': Bank of England unanimously votes to raise rates
The Bank of England's (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unanimously voted to increase interest rates by 25 basis points to 0.75%, the highest level in almost a decade.
'Sterling will suffer in the short term': Inflation unchanged at 2.4% in June
Sterling has fallen on the back of inflation figures released this morning, which show the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained steady at 2.4% in June.
Inflation holds steady at 2.4% in May
UK inflation stuck at 2.4% in May, missing analysts' estimates of a move higher and further cooling expectations on an interest rate hike from the Bank of England this summer.
Doubts over rate rise this year as inflation hits fresh one-year low
UK consumer price inflation fell 0.1 percentage points in April to 2.4%, a fresh one-year low and missing economists' expectations of inflation remaining at 2.5%.