Sawt Falasteen - Bank of England slashes UK growth outlook amid Trump tariff threat

The sharp downgrade, which estimates gross domestic product at 0.75 percent in 2025 compared with an BoE forecast of 1.5 percent in November, came alongside a cut to its key interest rate.

In an expected decision, the central bank trimmed borrowing costs by a quarter point to 4.5 percent at a regular policy meeting, with weak growth concerns offsetting concerns about above-target UK inflation.

Downgrades to growth -- the BoE also said the UK economy likely grew 0.75 percent last year rather than 1.0 percent -- heaps more pressure on the Labour government which has pledged to drive forward the economy since winning power in July.

A third interest-rate cut in six months "is welcome news, helping ease the cost of living pressures... and making it easier for businesses to borrow to grow", finance minister Rachel Reeves said in a statement.

"However, I am still not satisfied with the growth rate."

- Tariffs warning -

BoE governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday said the central bank will be "monitoring the UK economy and global developments very closely and taking a gradual and careful approach to reducing rates further".

At 4.5 percent, borrowing costs are at the lowest level since June 2023.

Seven BoE policymakers including Bailey voted for a quarter-point cut but the remaining two wanted a deeper reduction that would have taken the rate to 4.25 percent.

"GDP growth has been weaker than expected... and indicators of business and consumer confidence have declined," minutes of the meeting said.

"Tariffs and other trade barriers would likely have adverse effects on UK activity," the BoE added.

Trump has stated that Britain may not escape levies on its exports to the United States, having already imposed tariffs on imports from China and threatened similar action against the European Union.

The US president has delayed measures against US neighbours Mexico and Canada, pending talks.

There is widespread concern that such tariffs will cause a renewed spike in inflation that risks hikes to interest rates.

The US Federal Reserve last week left borrowing costs unchanged but the European Central Bank cut eurozone rates.

The Bank of England cut in August for the first time since early 2020, from a 16-year high of 5.25 percent after UK inflation fell sharply.

It reduced further in November, aiding mortgage holders but hurting savers as retail banks tend to pass on similar cuts to customers.

Britain's annual inflation rate fell to 2.5 percent in December but remains above the BoE target of 2.0 percent

Major central banks last year began to cut interest rates that had been hiked in efforts to tame inflation.

UK inflation had soared to above 11 percent in October 2022, the highest level in more than four decades, as the Russia-Ukraine war cut energy and food supplies, sending prices soaring.

Companies faced supply constraints also as they struggled to return to the pre-Covid rhythm of working.

H.Darwish--SF-PST