Interest rates live: Bank of England expected to cut rate for third time this year

Rachel Reeves faces โimpossible trilemmaโ and must raise taxes
Rachel Reeves faces an โimpossible trilemmaโ ahead of the autumn budget and must raise taxes or tear up her flagship borrowing rules to fill a ยฃ50bn black hole left by Labour U-turns, higher borrowing and sluggish economic growth, top economists have warned.
In order to restore the ยฃ9.9bn buffer the government has maintained since last yearโs Budget, the chancellor must therefore raise a total of ยฃ51.1bn.
Millie Cooke and Kate Devlin have the detail:
Karl Matchett7 August 2025 07:30
What affects decisions over interest rates?
The MPC have a lot to weigh up before deciding whether to hold, cut or raise interest rates at any given point.
Right now, members will be considering domestic inflation as a primary factor, for sure, but also economic growth and business investment prospects, and job vacancies and unemployment.
Cutting rates are one way to stimulate economic growth by lowering borrowing costs, which can bring more business investments and hiring, more jobs, more spending power.
Thatโs more what the UK seems to need at present.
Karl Matchett7 August 2025 07:17
Will interest rates be cut today?
The base rate – currently at 4.25 per cent following cuts in February and May – impacts consumers and taxpayers through everything from their mortgages to savings, so what do experts foresee both next week and beyond?
Karl Matchett7 August 2025 07:07
Interest rates and latest business news
Morning all and welcome to The Independentโs live business coverage.
Todayโs main focus will be the Bank of Englandโs meeting later on and the MPCโs decision over interest rates.
Elsewhere weโll keep you posted as always on the latest company news, stock market updates and everything else that affects your money matters.
Karl Matchett7 August 2025 06:58
