Market pulse — mid-July 2026

A short, factual snapshot of the backdrop that matters for retirement savers. Everything here is drawn from public sources; nothing is a forecast or a recommendation.

The Bank of England's Bank Rate and UK inflation figures set the tone for savings rates and annuity pricing — check the current numbers at bankofengland.co.uk and ons.gov.uk. Annuity rates in particular have been materially higher in the post-2022 rate environment than in the decade before it, which has changed the conversation many people have at retirement.

What this means for you personally depends entirely on your circumstances — which is a conversation for a regulated adviser, not a website. We update this pulse weekly; the sources above are always the place to verify the live numbers.