Britain’s interest rate is now 0.25%

This is one of those things that is not absolutely true but is illustratively true. The Bank of Engald’s interest rate is currently 0.25%.

The Bank Rate is now 3.75%.

The policy relevant inflation rate is probably Core CPIH: 3.5%.

The real interest rate is therefore 0.25%.

Obviously, nominal interest rates are that 3.75%. But the real interest rate is also of interest (aha, aha).

Yes, we can get much more complex than this, we can talk about expected inflation - probably a greater driver of market rates than current - and so on.

But Britain does not currently have high interest rates. Britain has a high inflation rate and therefore low real interest rates. A useful little thing to keep in mind.

Tim Worstall

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