ONS CPI inflation rises to 3.3% in March; comment from Molo Finance

22 April 2026

Inflation up

“Increasing inflation reinforces what households are already feeling, particularly at the petrol pump where rising fuel costs are feeding through quickly. After a long period of high inflation, it does not take much to dent consumer confidence again, and that caution is likely to weigh on spending and borrowing decisions.

"Andrew Bailey has been clear that the Bank of England is in no rush to move. With energy prices still volatile and limited hard evidence on how this shock will settle, policymakers will want to avoid acting too quickly and risk adding further pressure to an already fragile outlook.

"In this environment, stability matters. For brokers and their landlord clients, refinancing volumes remain high as investors look to secure the best available rates. That is where lenders with a close working relationship with treasury come into their own, helping to maintain product consistency and pricing discipline.

"At the same time, we continue to see strong interest from UK, expat and foreign investors. UK buy to let remains an attractive, income-focused asset, and in uncertain global conditions that appeal tends to strengthen rather than fade.”