Negative interest rate debate becomes 'very real' as UK inflation plunges to 0.8%

Lowest CPI reading since August 2016

The debate concerning negative interests in the UK has now become “very real” after the UK 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 course to hitting 0% in the coming months, according to market commentators.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures released this morning (20 May) show that CPIH, which also measures owner occupiers' housing costs, was 0.9%, down from 1.5% a month earlier, as the impact of lockdown affects goods prices across the economy. BoE cuts rates to 0.1% in latest pandemic response The largest drag on the 12-month rate, according to the ONS, was a fall in energy and fuel pump prices largely owing to the collapse in oil prices, which resulted in a 0.35 percentage point reduction in the rate from the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels sector. Meanwh...