**The latest UK inflation data shows continued progress on disinflation, though price growth remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target.**
Key Data:
* **Headline CPI (YoY):** 3.0% (down from 3.4%)
* **Monthly CPI:** −0.5%
* **Core CPI (YoY):** 3.1%
* **Wage growth:** Slowed to 4.2%
* **BoE vote split:** 5–4 hold (narrow margin)
* Markets increasingly pricing a **March rate cut**
* BoE guidance suggests inflation could return to target by spring
* **Macro Takeaways:**
* Inflation trend is clearly easing.
* Cooling wage growth reduces persistent inflation risk.
* The tight vote split suggests growing internal support for easing.
* Policy is still restrictive, but momentum is shifting.
# Market Reactions / Positioning Themes:
* **GBP:** Softer as rate-cut expectations rise.
* **UK Bonds:** Yields easing; supportive for duration.
* **UK Equities:** Potentially constructive if policy loosens.
* **Gold / USD:** Mild support via currency dynamics.
* **Risk assets:** Liquidity expectations becoming more supportive.