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UK Inflation Rate at Levels Last Seen in 1992.
What this means for you.
The news of late has not made pretty reading. Prices are up, adjusted wages for inflation are down and the economy has not been moving in the right direction. We, as consumers, are feeling the pinch. We are used to the rising cost of fuel as a direct reflection of rising prices and inflation but household budgets will pick up the increase in prices for further products as the post pandemic worldwide landscape settles the supply chains in an ever changing and dynamic global geopolitical environment.
So, this begs the question, when in history were inflation rates this high and what can we learn from it?
UK Inflation rates hit highs of 27% in 1975, 20% in the early 1980’s and just over 11% in the early 1990’s. This has been a distant memory over the past 30 years only for a high inflationary environment to rear its head once more. The world is a different place since the early 1990’s with access to cheap goods from China and other Asian countries and the access to Russian energy and commodities for European imports an integral part in the Euro zone’s economic growth. Globalisation has taken over since then with the interconnected nature of worldwide economies prospering from shared growth across the board.
Fast forward to the present and we see the CPI index at just over 6%. What happened? It would have taken something big to jolt the global economies back into this high inflation environment. Up steps the Covid-19 pandemic. As restrictions have eased, consumers are spending more which has driven up prices. This has shifted Government planning to more self-sufficiency and generating economic stimulus packages in order to assist consumers who were locked down over the past 2 years.
This self-sufficiency has begun with moves by the Government to ease the squeeze on household budgets already taking effect. The fuel duty has been cut by 5p per litre until March 2023, National Insurance thresholds have been raised, the Employment Allowance increased from £4k to £5k and a promised basic rate tax cut to 19% from 20% is in the works before 2024. The self-sufficiency has begun.
The tools to combat high inflation rates would be for the Bank of England to raise interest rates. Back in 1992, the interest rates were above 10%. They have been steadily decreasing to 0.1% recently. These rates have already begun to rise to 1% since December 2021 with more increases expected in light of many analysts seeing the inflation rate peak over 10% by the end of the year. So it will be likely that we will see more interest rate rises by the end of the year.
So what does this all mean for you, the consumer?
As a result of interest rates rising, three things will happen to you.
So what does this all mean for you, the consumer?
As a result of interest rates rising, three things will happen to you:
- Mortgage payments will increase (if you are not on a fixed rate mortgage)
- Your credit card and loan repayments may increase in the light of higher interest rates
- The Savings rate will increase – but be warned as the interest rates are not rising in line with the rising inflation rate.
The actions you can take are as follows:
- Streamline your household budget, cut wasteful expenditure in light of rising prices
- Confirm your mortgage position as to whether you are in a fixed or variable rate period
- Focus on building and maintaining your emergency savings (recommended to have at least 3 month’s worth of living expenses)
- Focus on paying down short term debt over the next few months
The main takeaway at present for you as you attempt to travail the rest of 2022 is that your household budget will get tighter from now until the end of the year. Thankfully, we are heading into our summer which may put a pause on household energy prices rising. But this will likely be a stay of execution as we head into the winter later this year.
So batten down the hatches, sit on your cash for the next few months to call on for those inevitably rainy days and look to outlast this period of high inflation to come out the other side in a strong and healthy financial position.
Written by: Greg Armstrong
19 May 2022
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Ascot Wealth Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority reference 551744. Our registered office: Scotch Corner, London Road, Sunningdale, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 0ER. Registered in England No. 7428363. www.old.ascotwm.com Unless otherwise stated, the information in this document was valid on 3rd February 2017. Not all the services and investments described are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Tax, trust and company administration services are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The services described may not be suitable for all and you should seek appropriate advice. This document is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purpose or sale of any financial instrument by Ascot Wealth Management Limited. The information and opinions expressed herein are considered valid at publication, but are subject to change without notice and their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. No part of this document may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission. © 2017 Ascot Wealth Management Ltd. Please note: This website uses cookies. To continue to use this website, you are giving consent to cookies being used.
