U.K. Posts Weakest Inflation Since 2016

U.K. inflation slowed to just a quarter of the Bank of England’s target in May, boosting the case for policy makers to add to their stimulus plan at their meeting this week.

Consumer prices increased just 0.5% from a year earlier, the weakest since 2016, amid falling prices of auto fuel and recreational goods. The core rate, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, slipped to 1.2%. The pound was little changed following the Office for National Statistics report Wednesday.

BOE officials are expected to increase bond purchases by 100 billion pounds (6 billion) as they look to protect the economy from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and some economists suggest further easing will be needed this year, including taking interest rates below zero for the first time.

Most non-essential stores remained closed during May due to the U.K.’s lockdown. Petroleum and diesel prices continued their decline, taking the drop over the past year to almost 17%. Games and toys meanwhile reversed price gains seen a month earlier. Modest upward pressure came from food prices.

The central bank, which has already slashed rates to 0.1% and restarted bond buying to fight the crisis, has said the economy may be heading for the worst downturn in three centuries, while data last week showed it shrank by more than 20% in April alone.

U.K. Posts Weakest Inflation Since 2016, Bloomberg, Jun 17