What is the Bank of England rate prediction?
Following latest UK main economic indicators, the BoE sees an interest rate of 5.3% for the end of 2023. It expects a rate of 5.1% for 2024, one of 4.5% for 2025 and a rate of 4.2% for 2026.
The Bank said its survey of financial companies found that they expected rates to fall to 4.5% before the end of 2024. Inflation has decreased sharply in recent months, with the consumer prices index falling to 3.4% in February.
Monetary Policy Summary, March 2024. The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) sets monetary policy to meet the 2% inflation target, and in a way that helps to sustain growth and employment. At its meeting ending on 20 March 2024, the MPC voted by a majority of 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
Projected interest rates in 5 years in the UK
The bank saw interest rates at 4.4% (lower than the current rate) in the second quarter of 2023, where the rate was projected to stay in Q2 2024, before falling down to 3.8% in Q2 2025. In 2026, the bank saw the rate at 3.6%.
While McBride had expected mortgage rates to fall to 5.75 percent by late 2024, the new economic reality means they're likely to hover in the range of 6.25 percent to 6.4 percent by the end of the year, he says.
On 21 March 2024, the Bank of England held the base rate at 5.25% for the fifth time in a row. Financial markets are currently predicting the first cut in interest rates will be in June 2024, falling to around 3% by the end of 2025, according to the latest forecasts from Capital Economics.
Projected Interest Rates in the Next Five Years
ING's interest rate predictions indicate 2024 rates starting at 4%, with subsequent cuts to 3.75% in the second quarter. Then, 3.5% in the third, and 3.25% in the final quarter of 2024. In 2025, ING predicts a further decline to 3%.
Today, economists and traders alike are now forecasting just two UK Interest rate cuts in 2024, with UK rates likely to fall from 5.25% to 4.75% by December, with the first rate cut likely to come in August or September, just before the predicted UK election.
2025/2026 UK Interest Rate Predictions
Highest Projection for Q4 2025: The Bank of England predicts interest rates in 2025 will stabilise at 3.4%. Lowest Lowest Projection for Q4 2025: 30 Rates anticipates a significant drop to 1.75%. Highest Projection for 2026: Money To The Masses sees rates at 3.74%.
According to the BoE, interest rates are likely to come down to about 5.1% by the end of 2024, going further down to 4.5% in 2025 and 4.2% in 2026. Analysts don't provide UK interest rate forecasts for the next 10 years due to the complexity of factors that might significantly influence the future rate.
How long are UK interest rates likely to stay high?
When will interest rates fall? Most analysts think that interest rates have peaked, and will soon start to fall – with current market expectations placing the first cut this summer. The Bank will lower the base interest rate to 3% by the end of 2025, according to analysis by research firm Capital Economics.
When will interest rates fall? Forecasts on when base rate will go down. The Bank of England will cut the base rate to around 3 per cent by in 2025, according to the latest forecasts from Capital Economics.
| Date | Interest rate predictions (Bank of England base rate) |
|---|---|
| April 2024 | 5.25% (actual) |
| September 2024 | 4.95% (predicted) |
| January 2025 | 4.72% (predicted) |
| January 2026 | 4.24% (predicted) |
Here's where three experts predict mortgage rates are heading: Around 6% or below by Q1 2025: "Rates hit 8% towards the end of last year, and right now we are seeing rates closer to 6.875%," says Haymore. "By the first quarter of 2025, mortgage rates could potentially fall below the 6% threshold, or maybe even lower."
The median estimate for the fed-funds rate target range at the end of 2025 moved to 3.75% to 4%, from 3.5% to 3.75% in December. For the end of 2026, the median dot now shows a target range of 3% to 3.25%, versus 2.75% to 3% three months ago.
If the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates too quickly, it could spur inflation, erasing all the work the central bank has done to curb increasing prices over the past couple of years. So, any rate cuts in 2024 are likely to be minimal and unlikely to result in mortgage rates dropping to 3%.
After its December 2023 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) predicted making three quarter-point cuts by the end of 2024 to lower the federal funds rate to 4.6%. Inflation has started to recede, but the committee has signaled it wants to see more positive data before pulling the trigger.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as of Thursday was 6.99%. By the final quarter of 2025, Fannie Mae expects that to slide to 6.0%.
The expected decreasing inflationary pressure, plus the added impact of a falling federal funds rate in 2024, is likely to push mortgage rates lower. But while the Fed raised its benchmark rate fast in 2022–2023, it's expected to bring rates down at a much more gradual pace in 2024 and beyond.
Mortgage rates are expected to decline later this year as the U.S. economy weakens, inflation slows and the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is expected to fall to the mid- to low-6% range through the end of 2024, potentially dipping into high-5% territory by early 2025.
Should I fix my interest rate for 5 years?
Choosing a five-year fixed mortgage rate can improve your chances of passing a lender's affordability checks. Banks often use a more lenient calculation when working out if you can afford the annual or monthly repayments on a five-year remortgage deal.
The upper boundary of the Federal Reserve's target range for its benchmark interest rate, currently 5.5%, will fall only to 4% by the end of 2025, according to the latest Bloomberg monthly survey. That's a half percentage point higher than respondents expected just a month ago.
Rates projected above 3% in 2027
The MPC has predicted inflation could drop to target this spring, "before increasing slightly again".
Bank of England official nominal interest rates will rise linearly to 4% by 2030 (i.e., just over 25bp of hikes per year). This resting point for interest rates reflects a combination of long-term real GDP growth of 2% plus 2% inflation.
Mortgage rates are expected to remain below 4% until 2026
House prices will fall less than previously forecast in 2024 and mortgage rates are also predicted to rise less steeply, data shows.
