Bailey Q&A: We need to see evidence of services inflation easing back

• We need to see evidence of the most persistent elements of inflation, services inflation in particular, easing back
• In terms of policy-setting, we need to look past short-term trends
• Services inflation might be much stickier in the months ahead
• Hopes lower inflation will influence expectations in the real economy
• But we need to see more evidence of that
• Inflation moving back to around 2.7% is not an acceptable level as a resting point
• Needing to get inflation back to 2% mark is the best thing for households
• We will not maintain policy stance any longer than we need to

Following his remarks, the odds of a May rate cut have dwindled to ~45% now with traders even paring back odds of a June rate cut. The latter now has odds of ~96% after having been fully priced in before the BOE decision.