england decide what to do with interest rates. the current uk base rate 5.25%. but after we found out that wages, on average, are rising at their fastest level now in 20 years, could we see another rise in september. joining me now is kallum pickering, who s the senior economist at berenberg bank. with your predictions, what are you thinking you will see here today? i you thinking you will see here toda ? ~ , today? i think we might be surprised today? i think we might be surprised a today? i think we might be surprised a little today? i think we might be surprised a little to - today? i think we might be surprised a little to the - surprised a little to the upside but it not should not make much of a difference, the bank of england expecting 6.8, markets expecting 6.7, if it came at 6.9 i would not be surprised because petrol prices rose over the month but it should be a big versus last month because the energy price comes down in the monthjuly. this should be anoth
interest payments some of which are linked to inflation. let s get this in perspective though the uk s national debt is at record levels. it owes £2.69 trillion. that is almost the size of the uk economy the so called debt to gdp ratio is around 97.7%. that is a useful guide to how affordable the debt is for a country. the chancellor has pledged to get that ratio down. the uk s far better off than some of its neighbours though italy s debt to gdp is around 140%. but if we look at germany s that s is only around 65%. but if we look at germany s that s only around 65%. staying in the uk where aside from talk of potential tax cuts there are stark warnings that 2 million people could have their gas and electricity cut off this winter because they can t afford to top up their prepayment meter. that comes from the charity the citizens advice bureau as cost of living pressure continue to bite for many. joining me now is the report author alex belsham harris en