Labour market overview, UK: March 2026

In trend terms, in February 2026: • unemployment rate decreased to 4.2%. • participation rate remained at 66.8%. • employment increased to 14,721,400. • employment to population ratio increased to 64.0%. • underemployment rate remained at 5.9%. • monthly hours worked increased to 2,009 million. In seasonally adjusted terms, in February 2026: • unemployment ...

At its meeting ending on 18 March 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. Conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant increase in global energy and other commodity prices, which will affect households’ fuel and utility prices and have indirect effects via businesses’ costs. Prior to this, there had been continued disinflation in domestic prices and wages. CPI inflation will be higher in the near term as a result of the new shock to the economy. Monetary policy cannot influence global energy prices but aims to ensure that the economic adjustment to them occurs in a way that achieves the 2% target sustainably. The MPC is alert to the increased risk of domestic inflationary pressures through second-round effects in wage and price-setting, the risk of which will be greater the longer higher energy prices persist. The MPC is also assessing the implications for inflation of the weakening in economic activity that is likely to result from higher energy costs. *BANK OF ENGLAND HOLDS KEY INTEREST RATE AT 3.75% IN 9-0 VOTE *BOE SAYS ALL MEMBERS 'STAND READY TO ACT' TO CONTAIN INFLATION *BOE SEES INFLATION AT OVER 3% IN FEBRUARY, NEAR 3.5% IN MARCH Bank of England votes unanimously to keep rates on hold as Iran war clouds outlook The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted “unanimously” keep its benchmark interest rate on hold at 3.75% on Thursday. Before the war in Iran erupted in late February, the BOE had been expected to cut its key interest rate, known as ‘Bank Rate,’ at its March meeting, but the conflict has sent global energy prices soaring, clouding the outlook for inflation and growth. “Conflict in the Middle East has caused a significant increase in global energy and other commodity prices, which will affect households’ fuel and utility prices and have indirect effects via businesses’ costs,” the BOE said in a statement.

ECB President Christine Lagarde explains the Governing Council's monetary policy decisions and will answer questions from journalists at the Governing Council press conference to be held on Thursday, 19 March 2026 at 14:45 CEST in Frankfurt am Main.