UK Inflation Slows in February, but BoE Rate Cut Still a Distant Prospect;

Additional costs on businesses in the budget.
Low business and consumer confidence.
Sluggish demand at home and abroad.
Uncertainty resulting from tariff policies as headwinds.

Market Views: Rate Cut Hopes May Fade

Bob Elliott, Chief Investment Officer at Unlimited Funds, remarked on last week’s UK labor Market Overview Report:

“The BoE is hamstrung by a UK labor market that is tight enough to keep wages and service inflation elevated, but too weak to drive an acceptable pace of overall growth. Data released today shows anemic job growth, but wage growth that’s far too high for cuts ahead.”

A tight labor market, wage growth, and services inflation may continue tempering bets on an H1 2025 BoE rate cut.

GBP/USD Volatility Post-Inflation Data

Ahead of the UK inflation report, the GBP/USD briefly climbed to a high of $1.29485 before dropping to a low of $1.29262.

However, the reaction after the release was mixed, with price action lacking clear direction as traders assessed the inflation figures. After the inflation report, the GBP/USD fell from $1.29401 to a low of $1.29170 before steadying.

On Wednesday, March 26, the GBP/USD was down 0.15% to $1.29232.