Get the app →
BriefTea logoBriefTea

Every story in sixty words

Get the free app no ads · no paywall

Business · 19 March 2026

Iran war blocks Bank of England rate cut, mortgages to cost more

Iran war blocks Bank of England rate cut, mortgages to cost more

Елена Пехчевска via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Many people looking for new fixed mortgage deals are facing more expensive borrowing, as rates have recently jumped. The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to keep the benchmark interest rate at 3.75%, with its decision published at 12:00 GMT. Oil prices surged, caused by disrupted key trade routes, and this pushed average two-year fixed rates to 5.30%.

Reported by BBC · How we write briefs

Understand this story

Why does the Bank of England hold rates? Why does the Bank of England raise rates? What is the Bank of England?

More briefs

BusinessThames Water creditors name Labour peer John Hutton as chair for proposed rescue BusinessMillions of Revolut and Lloyds customers hit by major outage BusinessElizabeth Holmes Documentary Takes $15m in Biggest Opening in 20 Years BusinessMortgage Deals Vanishing at Fastest Rate on Record TransportJudge Throws Out 13,000 Black Cab Drivers' Case Against Uber BusinessVinted Sellers Say They Were Unfairly Banned From the App More business stories → Browse all stories →