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Interest rates expected to be held as uncertainty over Iran war continues

Interest rates are expected to be held at 3.75% by the Bank of England, with uncertainty dominating the UK and global economies. Analysts are widely predicting the benchmark rate will be left unchanged owing

Bank of England boss tells BBC he won't rush interest rate rises

UK's central bank will not rush to make a decision on interest rate rises, despite the world facing what he described as a "very big energy shock". Speaking to the BBC at the meeting

'Bit of pain' worth long-term security from Iran, Bessent tells BBC

interest rates to slow the pace of price rises. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told the BBC a prolonged conflict would lead to spiralling inflation, push up unemployment and lead to food insecurity

UK unemployment shows surprise fall to 4.9% as pay growth drops to lowest in five years

UK unexpectedly fell in the three months to February, according to official figures – but the fallout from the conflict in the Middle East is expected to cause a rise in job cuts. The Office

Lloyds takes £151m hit from Iran war as it forecasts rise in UK unemployment

UK inflation is [currently running at 3.3%](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/22/uk-inflation-rises-soaring-fuel-prices-iran-war). However, Lloyds believes that the Bank of England will not move to increase the base interest rate, which stands at 3.75%, this year, but will

UK faces £35bn hit and risk of recession this year over impact of Iran war, thinktank warns

Middle East conflict has laid bare the fact that the UK remains highly exposed to global energy shocks. Even if hostilities ease rapidly, higher energy prices will leave households poorer, businesses facing higher costs

Bank of England leaves interest rates on hold at 3.75%

impact of the Iran war. The Bank’s rate-setting monetary policy committee (MPC) voted to leave borrowing costs on hold at noon on Thursday, after its latest rate-setting meeting. The vote

Bank bosses called to meeting with Reeves over impact of Iran war on UK economy

impact of the crisis in the Middle East triggered by the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran. The chief executives of HSBC, [Barclays](https://www.theguardian.com/business/barclay), Lloyds, NatWest and Santander have been asked

Mortgages, bills and jobs: Five takeaways from the Bank of England meeting

conflict in the Middle East hits the economy. Here are five key takeaways. Not that long ago, most economists were expecting interest rates to fall this year. The Iran war changed that. Although the Bank

UK firms in ‘critical financial stress’ jump by a third as costs rise, report finds

impact of the Middle East conflict. Hospitality and leisure firms have been faring particularly badly because of shaky consumer confidence, and rising taxes and staff costs, according to research by the restructuring company Begbies Traynor

What people in power think the impact of the Iran war will be

conflict is over," he said. Kristalina Georgieva, IMF managing director told me, the world faced a "slower moving shock" while the World Bank's president Ajay Banga told me about the impact on economically poorer

Move over wind farms: why some argue cutting costs is the best way to cut carbon

conflict in the Middle East pushes up oil and gas prices, raising fears that high energy costs could persist. The government insists that focusing on renewables will ultimately deliver greater energy security by reducing reliance