of borrowing up to its highest in 15 years, to try and get soaring prices under control, by limiting the spending power of households and businesses. it s not expected to start cutting rates today, but it is under growing pressure to do so. here s why. on wednesday, we learned that inflation the rate at which prices are rising came down more sharply than expected last month, from 4% injanuary to 3.4% in february. thats a huge fall from its peak, back in october 2022, when inflation was running at three times that level, at 11% a year. inflation here in the uk is now at its lowest in two and a half years, but it is still above the target the bank of england sets itself, of 2%, and people across the country are still feeling the effects of higher prices, despite claims by the prime minister that the economy is on the road to recovery. our economics editor faisal islam has more. the first day of spring is often a turning point of renewal, but at this farm shop near crewe, th
is on the road to recovery. joining me now is kathleen brooks, research director at the stockbrokers xtb. no great surprise the bank didn t decide to make a move on rates. the forecast is still later in the year but it is interesting when we look at how those members of the mpc voted, we get a sense of what could happen next. voted, we get a sense of what could happen next- happen next. absolutely, the two members that happen next. absolutely, the two members that voted happen next. absolutely, the two members that voted for - happen next. absolutely, the two members that voted for a - happen next. absolutely, the two members that voted for a hike i happen next. absolutely, the two | members that voted for a hike last month and for the last five months before all the other members, or most of the other members, were voting to remain on hold, they moved to the other side so they are no longer looking for rate hikes, so that has made the path to cuts much easier on the mar
from the bbc sport centre. a big afternoon of celebrations for the manchester city supporters. thousands of supporters are heading to manchester city centre in preparation for the winning parade. the team will be parading through on a bus after their nervy victory this weekend in istanbul. andy, what are weekend in istanbul. andy, what are we expecting later? i am weekend in istanbul. andy, what are we expecting later? we expecting later? i am here at the end oint we expecting later? i am here at the end point of we expecting later? i am here at the end point of the we expecting later? i am here at the end point of the victory we expecting later? i am here at the end point of the victory parade - we expecting later? i am here at the end point of the victory parade and l end point of the victory parade and you can see they are still finishing off the stage which is where the players will be presented at the end of their victory parade to the crowd and they will show off
bloc known as mercosur likely to dominate. both blocs have entered the last stretch of negotiations to seal a trade deal that has been over two decades in the making. so what progress will be made this week? let s discuss this withjimena blanco chief analyst and head of americas research at the risk intelligence company verisk maplecroft. it s company verisk maplecroft. a really big week for ti eu it s a really big week for the eu and for south america. remind the viewers, mercosur what is it and who is involved with that and why is it taking so long for this trade pact to be aligned? be aligned? good morning, sall . be aligned? good morning, sally- the be aligned? good morning, sally. the mercosur - be aligned? good morning, sally. the mercosur and - be aligned? good morning, sally. the mercosur and eui sally. the mercosur and eu talks have been going on for a couple of decades, but in 2019, the south american block that comprises argentina brazil, uruguay and paraguay
one weekend in march, and now we ll see two cultures colliding. there are likely to be manyjob losses, staff will be bracing for those. however, as you say, the boss of ubs has said, look, we have a lot of opportunities here as well, and of course it does mean that ubs is able to access key markets in wealth management that it would have taken years to do had it not taken over credit suisse. and of course the deal reached with the swiss government effectively for the government to back around $10 billion of losses that it could see when it sells of chunks of credit suisse s business, will have helped sweeten this deal. it is going to have a fight on its hand but arguably, credit suisse s footprint does mean that that is probably going to be easier to at leastjoin the fight now that it has all of these assets under management and of course, has already established partnerships around the world. so certainly that will be the ambition. it s a big ambition. i don t think necessar