Low inflation not a threat, says George Osborne

clock

The sharp fall in the UK inflation rate should not be feared, Chancellor George Osborne will say in a speech later.

"We should not confuse this welcome news with the threat of damaging deflation that we see in the eurozone," he will say in a speech, the BBC reports. The speech comes a day after official figures showed the UK inflation rate had fallen to 0.5% in December - its lowest rate since May 2000. Economists have warned the fall means an outright drop in prices is possible. Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, told the BBC after the figures came out that: "We will expect it to fall further, and inflation to continue to drift down in the coming months." In a separate interview,...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

Bank of England holds interest rates at 4% as Budget looms large

Bank of England holds interest rates at 4% as Budget looms large

Five MPC members voted to hold rates

Michael Nelson
clock 06 November 2025 • 3 min read
Partner Insight: Tariffs are here to stay. What's next for investors?

Partner Insight: Tariffs are here to stay. What's next for investors?

The current outlook for US tariffs is complex and their full impact on growth remains to be seen. Columbia Threadneedle Investments explores what advisers need to know, key events to keep top of mind and how to navigate the uncertainty.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments
clock 23 October 2025 • 5 min read
IFS: Reeves must plug £22bn fiscal hole to restore 'tiny' headroom

IFS: Reeves must plug £22bn fiscal hole to restore 'tiny' headroom

Think tank urges chancellor to avoid 'limping from one forecast to the next'

Linus Uhlig
clock 16 October 2025 • 2 min read