UK survey: inflation target is about right
UK survey: inflation target is about right stood at 36% in Q3 2026, according to Bank of England — statistical and research datasets. It is one of the indicators in the Public inflation expectations table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q4 1999 to Q3 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Public inflation expectations table
| Indicator | Q3-2026 | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attitudes to the inflation target and the Bank of England | |||||||||||
| Say the inflation target is about right | 36 | 39 | 39 | 36 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 42 | 45 | 40 | |
| Say the inflation target is too high | 35 | 32 | 34 | 38 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 |
Understanding UK survey: inflation target is about right
Public endorsement of the official inflation objective is quantified here by tracking the percentage of United Kingdom adults who state that the current target is pitched at the appropriate level. Sibling survey questions assess alternative opinions—specifically whether the target is set too high or too low—making this series a direct barometer of public contentment with prevailing monetary goalposts rather than an estimate of actual price changes.
Data are reported quarterly without seasonal adjustment and undergo no historical revisions. When interpreting this metric, changes should be evaluated alongside actual price trajectories: public support for the target often fluctuates not because citizens desire a different numerical benchmark, but because prolonged departures of actual inflation from that benchmark test household confidence in institutional frameworks.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series track the actual inflation rate?
- No, it records the percentage of respondents expressing approval of the numerical inflation objective itself.
- How does this question differ from satisfaction with monetary authorities?
- This series focuses strictly on whether the inflation target itself is perceived as appropriate, rather than grading the central bank's execution.
- Are the survey responses revised retrospectively?
- The published proportions are final and are not revised in subsequent quarterly releases.