Finance

UK public's inflation expectations fall in May, Citi/YouGov survey shows

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 29, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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UK public's inflation expectations fall in May, Citi/YouGov survey shows
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LONDON (Reuters) -The British public's expectations for inflation over the year ahead fell in May to 4.0% from 4.2%, a Citi/YouGov survey showed on Thursday. Longer-term inflation expectations,

UK Inflation Expectations Drop to 4.0% in May, Says Citi/YouGov Survey

LONDON (Reuters) -The British public's expectations for inflation over the year ahead fell in May to 4.0% from 4.2%, a Citi/YouGov survey showed on Thursday.

Longer-term inflation expectations, however, remained unchanged at 4.2% for the third straight month, the survey showed.

"This should offer some relief after consecutive months of increasing expectations," Citi analysts said of the lower year-ahead expectations.

"But concerns around the elevated level and the static longer-term series remain," they added.

Data last week showed Britain's inflation rate hit a bigger-than-expected 3.5% in April, its highest reading since January 2024, prompting investors to bet on the Bank of England slowing its already gradual pace of interest rate cuts.

(Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Key Takeaways

  • UK inflation expectations fell to 4.0% in May.
  • Long-term expectations remain steady at 4.2%.
  • Citi analysts see relief in lower short-term expectations.
  • April's inflation rate was higher than expected at 3.5%.
  • Investors anticipate a slower pace of interest rate cuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Citi/YouGov survey reveal about inflation expectations in May?
The survey showed that the British public's expectations for inflation over the year ahead fell to 4.0% in May from 4.2%.
How did long-term inflation expectations change according to the survey?
Longer-term inflation expectations remained unchanged at 4.2% for the third consecutive month.
What was the inflation rate in Britain for April?
Data indicated that Britain's inflation rate hit 3.5% in April, which was higher than expected.
What do Citi analysts say about the change in year-ahead inflation expectations?
Citi analysts noted that the lower year-ahead expectations should offer some relief after consecutive months of increasing expectations.
What concerns remain despite the drop in inflation expectations?
Concerns persist regarding the elevated level of inflation and the static longer-term expectations.

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