UK interest rates to peak at 5.5% in September, economists predict

Experts surveyed by Reuters expect inflation to continue falling in fourth quarter

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UK interest rates will peak at 5.5% next month as Bank of England policymakers try to minimise the impact of higher borrowing costs on the UK economy and avoid a prolonged recession, economists predict.

A fresh poll of economists by Reuters suggests the Bank will approve a 15th consecutive increase in interest rates at its next meeting on 21 September as part of efforts to combat price inflation, which is still more than three times higher than its 2% target.