Financial firms last month did not expect BoE to raise rates, BoE survey shows
Finance

Financial firms last month did not expect BoE to raise rates, BoE survey shows

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 1, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 1, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google

BoE Survey: Financial Firms Share 2024 UK Interest Rate Forecasts

Key Findings from the Bank of England's Market Participants Survey

Interest Rate Expectations for 2024

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Financial firms surveyed by the Bank of England last month did not expect the central bank to raise interest rates this year, though they no longer expected rates to be cut, according to a poll released by the BoE on Friday.

Long-Term Rate Projections

The BoE's quarterly Market Participants Survey, conducted from April 15-17, showed a median expectation for Bank Rate at the end of 2026 to be 3.75%, versus an expectation three months earlier for it to be cut to 3.25%.

Comparison with Market Pricing

By contrast, interest rate futures are currently priced to show at least two quarter-point rate increases this year.

Quantitative Tightening Outlook

The poll also showed expectations for BoE quantitative tightening were unchanged at 50 billion pounds ($68.01 billion)for the next 12-month period running from October 2026 to September 2027.

Exchange Rate Reference

($1 = 0.7352 pounds)

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by David MillikenEditing by William Schomberg)

Key Takeaways

  • Financial firms surveyed by the BoE in mid‑April no longer foresee rate cuts this year, expecting Bank Rate to stay at or around 3.75% by end‑2026.
  • That’s a sharp shift from expectations three months earlier, when firms forecast cuts to 3.25% by late 2026.
  • Despite firms’ views, interest‑rate futures currently imply at least two quarter‑point rate increases in 2026, reflecting market divergence from survey sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did financial firms expect the Bank of England to raise rates in 2024?
No, financial firms surveyed by the BoE last month did not expect the central bank to raise rates in 2024.
What was the median expectation for the Bank Rate at the end of 2026?
The median expectation for the Bank Rate at the end of 2026 was 3.75% according to the BoE survey.
How did interest rate futures differ from the survey responses?
Interest rate futures were priced to show at least two quarter-point rate increases in 2024, contrasting with survey results.
Were expectations for BoE quantitative tightening changed?
No, expectations for BoE quantitative tightening remained unchanged at 50 billion pounds for the period from October 2026 to September 2027.
When was the BoE Market Participants Survey conducted?
The survey was conducted from April 15-17.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category