After hawkish comments from the Bank of England the market priced in a May rate rise. Our economists don’t expect the next increase until November.
Forecasts for UK interest rates have moved significantly. The Bank of England, which ordered an increase from 0.25% to 0.50% in November, has signalled that it is ready to raise rates faster than previously thought. The Bank’s closely watched quarterly Inflation Report, published last month, pointed to the prospect of excessive economic demand emerging by 2020, raising concerns about inflation.
But rather than the detail of what was said, it was perhaps the choice of words that were more significant. Monetary policy, the report said, would need to be tightened “somewhat earlier and by a somewhat greater extent over the forecast period". The Bank’s hawkish communication spurred money markets to quickly bring forward expectations of the next rate rise to May. We take a different view.
A November rate rise?
We don’t expect the first increase to happen until November, as this is consistent with previous market expectations, upon which the Bank had based its comments. Beyond that, we expect another two rises next year, taking the bank rate to 1.25% by the end of 2019.
Why is our forecast for the first rise later than that of the market?
Firstly, we don’t believe the Bank expected its comments to shift expectations so far. If it does hike as early as May, then markets will quickly price in a rate rise every six months. That would mark a huge increase from the previous guidance that rate rises would be “gradual and limited”.
Secondly, many investors appear to have ignored the ending of the Term Funding Scheme in February. The scheme, which provided below market cost liquidity to banks in order to encourage additional lending to the public, is estimated by the Bank to have been worth about a 0.25% rate cut. It may already be having an impact on saving and lending rates.
Finally, it is worth remembering that the Bank assumes a smooth path to Brexit with regards to the impact on firms and households.
Given the small working majority the government has in the House of Commons, and the obvious divergence of views with regards to whether the UK should remain in the single market and/or customs union, a smooth path to Brexit seems like the least likely outcome.
