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BREAKING: Interest Rate, Increase to 15-Year High – Bank Of England

Published

3 years ago

May 12, 2023

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The Bank of England on Thursday lifted its key interest rate to the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, noting inflation remained stubbornly high but that the economy would now avoid recession this year.

The BoE hiked the rate by a quarter-point to 4.5 percent — its 12th increase in a row with UK annual inflation stuck above 10 percent, fuelling a cost-of-living crisis across Britain.

Global policymakers are battling elevated inflation caused largely by runaway energy bills following last year’s invasion of Ukraine by major oil and gas producer Russia.

Following a regular policy meeting, the BoE warned of “considerable uncertainties” on when UK inflation would return to its two-percent target, as soaring food prices offset sharp drops to energy costs.

At the same time, the central bank made a record upgrade to its British GDP forecast, adding there would be only a small impact from recent turmoil in the commercial banking sector.

“Six months ago, we were expecting a shallow but long recession,” BoE governor Andrew Bailey told a press conference.

“Since then, energy prices have fallen substantially and economic activity is holding up much better than expected.”

– ‘Modest but positive’ growth –

Bailey said the UK would this year experience “modest but positive economic growth and a much smaller increase in unemployment.

“We think inflation will fall quite sharply over the coming months,” he added.

Official data Friday is expected to show the UK economy grew during the first quarter of this year after narrowly avoiding recession in the last three months of 2022.

The rate decision comes one week after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government suffered a drubbing in local elections, as voters gave their verdict over rampant living costs despite government efforts to partly subsidise energy bills.

The nation has been plagued by strikes as high inflation erodes the value of wages. Train staff will walk out again on Friday following months of industrial action across the private and public sectors.

The latest BoE hike is set to deepen the crunch in living standards as retail banks pass on the increase, resulting in higher repayments on loans, including mortgages.

At the same time, those who can afford to save will benefit for increased fixed returns on investments.

“Although it is good news that the Bank of England is no longer forecasting recession, today’s interest rate rise will obviously be very disappointing for families with mortgages,” said British finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

– Highest inflation in G7 –

Thursday’s news took British borrowing costs to a level last seen in October 2008, before rates were slashed during the global financial crisis.

The BoE has ramped up borrowing costs from a record-low of 0.1 percent in December 2021.

Its latest hike came one week after the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve implemented quarter-point rate increases as inflationary pressures ease only slightly in the eurozone and the United States.

UK annual inflation stood at 10.1 percent in March, the highest level in the Group of Seven richest nations.

Sunak and the BoE blame the high level in part on rises to pay and have urged employers to show restraint.

BoE chief economist Huw Pill recently stated that Britons need “to accept that they’re worse off and stop trying to maintain their real spending power by bidding up prices via higher wages”.

AFP

Related Topics:Bank of England Interest Rate

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Afreximbank Hails Africa Credit Rating Agency

” We must all use it, and in return expect a complete assessment of where we (Africa) stand: the strengths the market has ignored, and the weaknesses we still need to fix.”

Published

42 minutes ago

October 12, 2026

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Photo: Mr Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President of Afreximbank addresses guests during the launch of the Africa Credit Rating Agency in Port Louis, Mauritius on October 7, 2026

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has declared it’s strong backing for the recently launched Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) by the African Union.

“AfCRA is an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s financial architecture and expanding the continent’s capacity to generate credible, independent analysis of African credit risk,” said Mr Denys Denya, Senior Executive Vice President of Afreximbank.

Mr Denya emphasised that credit ratings play an important role in determining access to capital, influencing investor perceptions and shaping the cost at which governments, institutions and businesses can finance development.

It is therefore essential that assessments of African credit risk are independent, rigorous and evidence-based, while reflecting a complete understanding of the structures, institutions and economic realities being assessed.

The establishment of AfCRA adds an important African-led source of credit opinion to the market.

Its value will not be measured by whether it produces more favourable ratings, but by the credibility of its analysis, the quality of its data and transparency of its methodology, and its ability to deepen understanding of African sovereigns, sub-sovereigns and corporate credit.

This is particularly important given that many African issuers remain unrated, while local-currency and sub-sovereign markets continue to have limited rating coverage.

Expanding credible rating coverage can improve the information available to investors and support the development of deeper domestic and regional capital markets.

Alongside fellow members of the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI), Afreximbank has consistently maintained that African Multilateral Financial Institutions should be assessed on the basis of their fundamentals, performance, legal frameworks, mandates and operating models.

Ensuring that these institutional characteristics are properly understood is essential to achieving informed, balanced and credible assessments of African risk.

Commenting on the uniqueness of the African market, and need for AfCRA’s rating methodology to reflect this, Mr Denya, said: “The rating methodology AfCRA develops must recognise the uniqueness of our environment and its institutional structures.

The Agency must set its own standards and not follow those set elsewhere — it must build a unique identity that conforms to an ‘African best practice.

”Highlighting the need for the autonomy of the Africa Credit Rating agency as it takes off, Mr Denya added: “Most importantly, AfCRA must set a new benchmark for the continent, maintain its independence, and remain wholly owned and controlled by Africans.

“We must all use it, and in return expect a complete assessment of where we (Africa) stand: the strengths the market has ignored, and the weaknesses we still need to fix.”

AfCRA should therefore be seen as complementary to existing international and regional rating agencies, broadening the range of credible analysis available to investors and issuers while strengthening competition, transparency and analytical capacity within Africa’s credit markets.

As Africa seeks to mobilise the scale of capital required for industrialisation, trade, infrastructure and economic transformation, credible African institutions that improve information, strengthen market confidence and deepen the continent’s financial markets will become increasingly important.

Afreximbank congratulates the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and all those involved in bringing AfCRA from concept to launch, and looks forward to the contribution the Agency will make to deeper, more transparent and more efficient African capital markets.

Business

Nigeria’s ₦33bn Fruit Import Bill Exposes Missed Opportunities in Jos

“In North Central Plateau State, apples grow very well. Unfortunately, …, the government, especially the state government, has not been serious about mobilising farmers, training them, giving them improved varieties and the right inputs.”

Published

1 hour ago

October 12, 2026

OCHEFA

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Data from the foreign trade statistics compiled by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that Nigeria imported apples and strawberries worth N33 billion from South Africa in the first half of 2026 (January -June).

The report stated that N10.38bn of apples were imported in the first quarter while N22.65bn of apples and strawberries were imported in the second quarter.

According to the report, apples are known to grow best in temperate climates with cold seasons providing 800–1,000+ chilling hours below 45°F (7°C) to break dormancy and ensure proper fruit set.

It can also grow in moderate weather (ideally 65–75°F or 18–24°C). This helps with optimal growth and flavour development without excessive heat stress.

This temperature is suitable in Plateau State, however, a former President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mohammed Gettado, explained that apples were grown in limited quantities in Plateau State but suffered neglect due to poor government attention and the widespread view that the fruit was meant for the wealthy.

Gettado said, “In North Central Plateau State, apples grow very well. Unfortunately, people consider apples a fruit for the elite only. So, the government, especially the state government, has not been serious about mobilising farmers, training them, giving them improved varieties and the right inputs.”

He added that production remained “very small” because farmers lacked support, stressing that subsidised inputs delivered at the right time were critical to scaling output.

“What farmers require are inputs such as fertiliser, agrochemicals and improved varieties, and they must be given at the right time, before planting,” he said. “If farmers can get these, and also have access to markets, Nigeria can produce whatever it needs and even beyond.”