{"id":119232,"date":"2023-09-21T23:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T23:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=119232"},"modified":"2023-09-21T23:00:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T23:00:07","slug":"cost-of-living-crisis-is-finally-coming-to-an-end-says-jeremy-hunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/politics\/cost-of-living-crisis-is-finally-coming-to-an-end-says-jeremy-hunt\/","title":{"rendered":"Cost of living crisis is finally coming to an end, says Jeremy Hunt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It signals the nation\u2019s economic fortunes are blossoming as inflation continues to tumble are blossoming as inflation tumbles.<\/p>\n
Mr Hunt said: \u201cWe are starting to see the tide turn against high inflation, but we will continue to do what we can to help households struggling with mortgage payments.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow is the time to see the job through. We are on track to halve inflation this year and sticking to our plan is the only way to bring interest and mortgage rates down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> Top UK cities where debts have shot up over past year<\/strong><\/p>\n The Bank\u2019s decision to keep rates at 5.25 percent was made easier because inflation has fallen for the past three months in a vindication of Rishi Sunak\u2019s economic policies.<\/p>\n Although the cost-of-living crisis is not over, it is a further sign things are getting better. Some experts are \u00adpredicting interest rates could start to fall from their current 5.25 percent in the first half of next year.<\/p>\n Inflation, now at 6.7 percent, is forecast to drop to 3 percent in 2024, massively easing the burden on hard-pressed households.<\/p>\n The UK has also seen the fastest economic growth in the G7 over the past two years.<\/p>\n Rishi Sunak said he is focused on bringing inflation down as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister said: \u201cI know things are tough right now for families and businesses with the cost of living. And that is why my number one priority coming into this year was to halve inflation.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is what we are delivering. In the meantime, we have got support in place to help families that are struggling, whether it is those on welfare or those with mortgages.\u201d Senior Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom said the pause in rates is \u201ca welcome reprieve for many\u201d.<\/p>\n The BoE base rate is often used by banks to set the rates they offer to customers on loans, savings and mortgages. Another 0.25% hike could have added hundreds of pounds to people\u2019s mortgage bills.<\/p>\n It was the first time since November 2021 that the monetary policy committee has not raised rates following 14 consecutive increases designed to cool soaring inflation.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n James Smith, an economist at ING, expects the \u201ctightening cycle\u201d is now over, paving the way for rate cuts next year. He said: \u201cBarring unpleasant surprises in the next round of wage and inflation data, we suspect the tightening cycle is now over.\u201d<\/p>\n And he said while the Bank was \u201cleaving all options on the table for November\u201d, ongoing falls in inflation means \u201cwe think the Bank will remain on hold for the foreseeable future\u201d. Rate cuts could even be on the cards next year, he said. And he added: \u201cWe suspect we could see initial cuts by the middle of next year.\u201d<\/p>\n Although those interest rate changes have curbed price growth, they have heaped \u00admisery on homeowners. The average rate on two-year and five-year mortgages are up to their steepest point in a decade and a half \u2013 at 6.58 percent and 6.07 percent respectively.<\/p>\n House prices have also tumbled more than 5 percent annually, the worst decline since 2009. The pause in rates comes after a close decision, with five monetary policy committee members opting to freeze and four choosing to raise them.<\/p>\n Bank Governor Andrew Bailey, who voted for the pause, said: \u201cInflation has fallen a lot in recent months and we think it will continue to do so. That\u2019s welcome news. But there is no room for \u00adcomplacency. We need to be sure \u00adinflation returns to normal and we \u00adcontinue to take the decisions necessary to do just that.\u201d<\/p>\n Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said inflation still remains high and households coming off fixed-rate mortgages will still be worse off because of Liz Truss\u2019 \u201cdisastrous\u201d mini-budget last year.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cLabour\u2019s plan for the economy is about returning stability and boosting growth so we can cut household bills, create better-paid jobs and make working people in all parts of the country better off.\u201d<\/p>\n Tighter interest rates were starting to damage the economy, the Bank said, leading to a \u00addowngrade of GDP growth for the rest of the year. Output contracted 0.5 percent on July.<\/p>\n And senior Conservatives have heaped pressure on Mr Hunt to cut taxes ahead of the next election after lower public \u00adborrowing than forecast. They insisted reducing the tax burden on hard-pressed Britons would give the party a much-needed poll boost. The welcome economic news comes a day after inflation fell for the third month in a row.<\/p>\n Economists said the lower-than-expected borrowing figures would give the Chancellor some \u201cwiggle room\u201d for tax cuts.<\/p>\n Tory MP Marco Longhi said slashing personal taxes, VAT and corporation tax would \u201chave the dual benefit of stimulating economic growth and being less inflationary\u201d.<\/p>\n Official figures showed August public sector net borrowing at \u00a311.6billion \u2013 lower than the \u00a313billion predicted by the Office Borrowing for the financial year so far hit \u00a369.6billion, below the \u00a381billion forecast.<\/p>\n Ashley Webb, of Capital Economics, said: \u201cWe would be surprised if the Chancellor doesn\u2019t find wiggle room for tax cuts and\/or spending rises in the Budget in March.\u201d<\/p>\n But Mr Hunt has warned that there will be no pre-election \u201cborrowing binge\u201d.<\/p>\n He has fought off pressure from Tories to pledge tax cuts, repeatedly playing down the prospect of major giveaways in his Autumn Statement, due on November 22.<\/p>\n
for Budget Responsibility.<\/p>\n