08/08/2025
12:00Breaking News
Business and economics reporter
The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4%, taking the cost of borrowing to the lowest level for more than two years.
The cut, from 4.25%, is the fifth the Bank has announced since last August.
While the fall in interest rates was widely-expected, the pace of price rises remains above the Bank of England's 2% target.
What does the cut mean for me?
It's the question we all ask, but the answers depend a lot on your individual circumstances.
Broadly speaking, borrowing money now will be slightly cheaper and returns on savings will not be as high.
What about those who have a mortgage?
Mortgage rates are often one of the first things a lot of people mention of when interest rates are decided, but to put it into context, only a third of people have a mortgage.
And the vast majority of mortgage holders are on fixed deals, so there’s no change for them.
Those looking to buy a home or coming to the end of a fixed deal will likely be watching today’s news closely, but given the markets expected a cut today, the reductions are typically priced in to fixed deals on offer already.
People with tracker mortgages, which are loans that rack the Bank’s base rate, could see an immediate reduction on monthly repayments. There about 600,000 people who have one.
For example, the cut in rates means repayments on an average standard variable rate mortgage of £250,000 over 25 years will fall by £40 per month, according to financial information company Moneyfacts.
The impact on savings
When it comes to impact on savings, today’s decision will spell “further misery”, according to finance expert at Moneyfacts, Rachel Springall.
Average rates across easy access and notice accounts have been falling since the start of August 2024.
The financial experts suggest shopping around for the best deal. “Switching savings accounts must become a regular habit to ensure savers are not getting a paltry rate,” adds Springall.