Ultra-low interest rates: could they be coming to an end?

16%

Bank of England base rate

14

Covid-19

12

Black

Wednesday

2008

financial

crisis

Brexit

vote

10

8

6

4

2

Consumer

prices index

inflation annual rate

0

-2

1990

2000

2010

2020

16%

Covid-19 causes the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression

Bank of England base rate

14

Black Wednesday: the UK government is forced to withdraw the pound from the European exchange rate mechanism

12

2008 financial crisis

Inflation becomes erratic

Brexit vote triggers a sharp fall in the pound, leading inflation to rise as imports become more expensive

10

8

6

4

Consumer

prices index

inflation annual rate

2

0

-2

1990

2000

2010

2020