UK Economic Calendar 2026

Last checked: 14 October 2026.

The UK Economic Calendar helps investors, traders, businesses and anyone interested in the UK economy track important economic events that can affect financial markets. This UK Economic Calendar guide covers the key releases, such as GDP, CPI inflation, Bank of England interest rate decisions, employment data, PMI reports and other high-impact announcements. Use this page to stay informed about upcoming UK economic events and understand how economic data may influence the FTSE 100, GBP exchange rates, mortgages, savings rates and investment decisions.

Bank of England interest rate decision dates 2026

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee announces its interest rate decision at 12:00 London time on the following Thursdays in 2026. These are the official dates published by the Bank of England. Four of the announcements also include the quarterly Monetary Policy Report.

Source: Bank of England, Monetary Policy Committee dates for 2026.

Regular UK economic data releases to watch

Alongside the Bank of England’s decisions, these are the releases UK investors, mortgage holders and savers watch most closely. Exact dates and times are confirmed by the publishers in advance:

• CPI inflation, published every month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
• Labour market overview, covering employment, unemployment and wage growth, published every month by the ONS.
• GDP, with a monthly estimate and the full quarterly release, published by the ONS.
• Retail sales, published every month by the ONS.
• PMI surveys for manufacturing, services and construction, published every month by S&P Global.
• US releases that move UK markets, including the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions (eight scheduled meetings a year) and the monthly US jobs and inflation reports.

Why the UK Economic Calendar Matters to Your Money

Economic events directly impact your everyday finances:

Interest Rates & Your Mortgage

When the Bank of England announces interest rate changes, mortgage rates respond within days. A 0.5% rate increase can add £150-300 to your monthly mortgage payment. Use our mortgage calculator to see exactly how rate changes affect your payment before applying with lenders.

Inflation & Your Savings

When CPI (inflation) rises, the purchasing power of your savings decreases. High inflation means your money buys less next year. Savers with fixed-rate accounts need to monitor inflation to ensure their interest rate beats inflation.

Employment Data & Your Confidence

Strong employment figures boost consumer confidence and pound strength. Weak employment can signal economic slowdown, affecting job security and investment returns.

Pound Strength (GBP/USD)

When the pound strengthens, UK imports become cheaper (good for your cost of living). When it weakens, imports become more expensive, affecting grocery costs and fuel prices.

Key UK Economic Events to Watch

Bank of England Interest Rate Decision (Usually monthly)

This is the most important event for mortgages. The BoE sets the base interest rate, which influences all mortgage rates. A rate increase means higher mortgage payments and higher savings rates. A rate decrease means lower mortgage payments but lower savings rates. Traders and investors watch this decision heavily.

CPI Inflation Report (Monthly)

Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) measures how much prices have risen for everyday items like food, fuel, and housing. Target is 2%. If inflation is high (above 3%), the BoE may raise interest rates to cool the economy. This directly affects your mortgage rate, savings rate and cost of living.

UK GDP (Quarterly)

Gross Domestic Product shows whether the UK economy is growing or shrinking. Strong GDP growth is positive for stocks and employment. Weak GDP can signal recession, which typically leads to interest rate cuts and economic uncertainty.

Employment Data (Monthly)

Shows how many jobs were created, unemployment rate, and wage growth. Strong employment supports interest rate increases. Weak employment may lead to rate cuts and economic stimulus.

Each of these events is color-coded in our calendar by impact level:

High Impact (Red): Major market-moving events
Medium Impact (Orange): Moderate influence on markets
Low Impact (Yellow): Minor announcements

How to Use the UK Economic Calendar

Step 1: Filter by Impact Level

If you’re new to economic calendars, start by watching High Impact events (red). These are the announcements that move markets most. As you gain experience, monitor Medium and Low impact events.

Step 2: Mark Your Calendar

Look ahead at upcoming High Impact events. The date and time are shown for each announcement. Set a reminder so you’re not caught off-guard.

Step 3: Compare Forecast vs Actual

For important events, the calendar shows:
– Forecast: What economists predict
– Previous: The last reading
– Actual: The real result when released

If Actual is much higher or lower than Forecast, expect market volatility.

Step 4: Plan Your Decisions

• Applying for a mortgage? Watch for interest rate decisions before you apply, rates move immediately after.
• Refinancing or remortgaging? Check the economic calendar before locking in your rate.
• Checking savings rates? Monitor inflation and interest rate decisions, they drive savings rates up or down.

Step 5: Watch the Impact

After an event is released, watch how markets respond:
• Strong employment = Pound often rises, interest rate expectations increase
• High inflation = Interest rate increase expected, mortgage rates may rise
• GDP growth = Stock market (FTSE 100) often rises

What a Bank of England rate change does to your money

The Bank Rate is 3.75%, held at the Bank of England meeting on 17 September 2026, and the next decision is on Thursday 5 November 2026. Here is what a quarter-point cut, to 3.50%, would do to two typical households. These are worked examples, not forecasts.

Mortgage: a £200,000 tracker mortgage priced at Bank Rate plus 1.00% charges 4.75% today. If the Bank Rate fell to 3.50%, the tracker would charge 4.50%. The interest part of the bill falls by £500 a year, about £41.67 a month. Anyone on a fixed rate feels nothing until their deal ends.

Savings: a £10,000 easy-access pot earning 5.00% AER pays £500 a year in interest. If the rate followed the Bank down by a quarter point to 4.75%, it would pay £475, which is £25 a year less. Providers move at different speeds, so check your own rate in the weeks after any decision.

FAQ

What is the UK Economic Calendar?

The UK Economic Calendar is a schedule of upcoming economic events and data releases that may influence UK financial markets. It includes reports such as GDP, inflation (CPI), employment figures, retail sales, PMI surveys and Bank of England interest rate decisions.

Why is the UK Economic Calendar important?

Economic events can affect the value of the British pound (GBP), stock markets, bond yields, mortgage rates and investor confidence. Monitoring the calendar helps people prepare for potential market movements.

Which UK economic events have the biggest market impact?

High-impact UK events include:

• Bank of England Interest Rate Decision
• UK CPI Inflation
• UK GDP
• Employment & Unemployment Rate
• Retail Sales
• Manufacturing PMI
• Services PMI

How often is the UK Economic Calendar updated?

The main dates on this page, such as the Bank of England’s announcement schedule, are published by the official sources well in advance and we review them regularly. For the latest figures the moment they are released, check the ONS release calendar and the Bank of England’s website.

What do Forecast, Previous and Actual mean?

• Forecast – Analysts’ expected value.
• Previous – Last reported value.
• Actual – Official released figure.

Comparing these values helps identify whether data is stronger or weaker than expected.

What do High, Medium and Low impact events mean?

Impact ratings estimate how much an event could move financial markets.

• 🔴 High Impact
• 🟠 Medium Impact
• 🟢 Low Impact

High-impact events generally receive the most attention from traders and investors.

How does UK inflation (CPI) affect markets?

Higher-than-expected inflation may influence Bank of England interest rate decisions and can affect the British pound, mortgage rates, savings rates and stock prices.

Why should investors follow the UK Economic Calendar?

Investors use the calendar to understand market conditions, anticipate volatility and stay informed about events that may influence investment decisions across equities, bonds, currencies and commodities.

Can beginners use an Economic Calendar?

Yes. Beginners can focus on major events such as inflation, GDP and interest rate announcements to understand how economic news may influence financial markets over time.

Is the UK Economic Calendar free to use?

Yes. Most online economic calendars, including this one, are free to use and provide schedules, forecasts and released data for major UK and global economic events.

When is the next Bank of England interest rate decision?

Thursday 5 November 2026. The Bank announces the decision at 12:00 London time, straight after the Monetary Policy Committee vote. The Bank held the rate at 3.75% on 17 September 2026. Every 2026 decision date is listed in the table at the top of this page, and we update this calendar after each announcement.

When is the Autumn Budget 2026?

Wednesday 28 October 2026. The Chancellor presents the Budget to Parliament, usually starting around 12:30 London time. Tax, benefit and savings changes are often announced there, and some start the same day. Our Money Weather page counts down to the Budget and tracks the other money deadlines around it.

If the Bank cuts rates, when will my mortgage payment fall?

Tracker and standard variable rate payments usually change within about a month of the decision, and your lender writes to confirm the new amount. Fixed-rate payments do not move at all until the deal ends. If your fix ends within six months, our remortgaging guide shows when to start looking.

When are the next UK inflation figures published?

The Office for National Statistics publishes inflation data monthly, and the next release, covering September 2026, is on Wednesday 21 October 2026. Inflation is the figure the Bank watches most closely before each rate decision, so this release matters for what the Bank decides on 5 November.