FAULTLINEGlobal event monitor The world todayAll situations

Economy · Impact 2 Notable

Bank of England expected to raise rates to 4% this week as 2.3m UK households face costlier remortgages

· London, United Kingdom · single source so far

The Bank of England's committee is widely expected to lift the base rate from 3.75% to 4% on 5 November after UK inflation rose to 3.5% in September. More than 2.3 million households coming off fixed deals in 2027 face higher mortgage payments.

Location
London, United Kingdom · United Kingdom live map
Coordinates
51.51°N 0.09°W
Reported
2 Nov 2026, 06:00 UTC
Category
Economy
Impact
2 of 5 · Notable
Situation
UK economy

UK economy right now

■ Steady

Chancellor Healey to veto offshore wind projects that won't lower energy bills

On Saturday's reporting window, Chancellor John Healey said he will veto new offshore wind projects unless they lower energy bills, adding to concerns the government is moving away from its pro-renewables agenda. On Thursday he backed away from cutting welfare costs this parliament, after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said his first budget ducked big tax and spending decisions amid a £28bn shortfall in public finances.

  • Healey says clean power helps break the grip of international gas prices but must proceed at the right pace with grid capacity.
  • The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the budget avoided big decisions amid a £28bn shortfall.
  • Earlier on Thursday, Healey had said the welfare bill will fall before the next election. OBR documents suggest sickness and disability benefits will cost £100bn a year before the end of the decade.
  • Wednesday's budget helped pensioners and households through tax breaks and rule tweaks, while banks and betting shops face higher payments.
Updated 31 Oct 2026, 14:38 UTC · Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.

More from UK economy

All 11 events in UK economy →