Fiatmap

Cost of moneyUnited Kingdom

Real policy rate in United Kingdom

Does money at the central bank’s rate actually beat inflation?

United Kingdom's real policy rate is -0.13 % — #42 of 53 countries on the atlas (higher is better). Period 2026-09.

-0.13%

Checked 24 Oct 2026Period 2026-09

Source: Fiatmap derived metrics (own calculation from separately sourced components)

Negative: cash in United Kingdom loses 0.1 pp of purchasing power a year even in the bank.

Among 53 countries

2 of 53 countries between -1.92 % and -1.62 %1 of 53 countries between -1.62 % and -1.32 %4 of 53 countries between -1.32 % and -1.02 %1 of 53 countries between -1.02 % and -0.72 %1 of 53 countries between -0.72 % and -0.42 %3 of 53 countries between -0.42 % and -0.12 %7 of 53 countries between -0.12 % and 0.18 %7 of 53 countries between 0.18 % and 0.48 %4 of 53 countries between 0.78 % and 1.08 %5 of 53 countries between 1.08 % and 1.38 %3 of 53 countries between 1.38 % and 1.68 %1 of 53 countries between 1.68 % and 1.98 %1 of 53 countries between 1.98 % and 2.28 %2 of 53 countries between 2.28 % and 2.58 %4 of 53 countries between 2.58 % and 2.88 %1 of 53 countries between 2.88 % and 3.18 %1 of 53 countries between 3.18 % and 3.48 %2 of 53 countries between 3.78 % and 4.08 %3 of 53 countries between 4.98 % and 5.28 %median 0.88 %United Kingdom: ahead of 21 % of the 53 countries with a published real policy rateUnited Kingdom -0.13 %-1.92 %5.28 %
Half of all 53 countries sit between -0.06 % and 2.16 %. United Kingdom is ahead of 21 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 3 values beyond it sit in the end bars.
Rank
#42 of 53
higher is better
Ranked behind
21 %
11 of 53 countries

In Europe: #20 of 30vs median 0.88 %: −1.01 pp (worse)

The neighbourhood

#CountryReal policy ratevs United Kingdom
40 Poland-0.06 %+0.07 pp
41 New Zealand-0.09 %+0.04 pp
42 United Kingdom-0.13 %—
43 Switzerland-0.15 %−0.02 pp
44 Spain-0.20 %−0.07 pp

Policy rate minus annual CPI inflation — positive means money in the bank beats inflation. Our calculation from separately sourced components.

How to read this figure

Our own calculation: the central bank policy rate minus annual CPI inflation. It answers one question — does parked money beat rising prices? Both components are separately sourced official figures, and we never compute it when either leg is missing.

Next, about United Kingdom

Mortgage ratesInflation rate
Real policy rate, all countries ranked →Compare United Kingdom with another country →Everything about United Kingdom →Methodology →
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