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Bank expected to leave its interest rate frozen at 3.75%

The Observer

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February 01, 2026

The Bank of England is set to leave its benchmark interest rate frozen at 3.75% at its meeting on Thursday following modestly better economic news, economists believe.

- Robin Pagnamenta & Emma Haslett

Of 56 economists surveyed on 21-26 January by Reuters, all but two expect the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to leave its core rate unchanged when it meets on 5 February. The other two predict a cut to 3.5%.

A slender majority now expect the nine-member MPC to trim rates in March by a quarter point to 3.5%.

Most now expect UK interest rates to sink to a low of 3.25% in the latter half of this year. UK inflation remains the highest in the G7 but is expected to fall in the first quarter of 2026, to 3% from a high of 3.8% last year.

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