
GBP/USD Extends Decline Ahead of UK PMI Data Release
On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the GBP/USD pair drew a bearish candle with a relatively long body and small shadows at the top and bottom of the candle. This decline extended the previous four-day decline. The price formed a high of 1.33600, a low of 1.33078, and a close of 1.3325.
Several fundamental factors contributed to the weakening of the GBP, including the UK's annual inflation data for September, which was recorded at 3.8%, below expectations and not increasing from the previous month. This condition has raised expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will cut interest rates or remain cautious. The UK economy appears weak, or at least not particularly strong, with limited growth, creating pressure in the UK bond market. A more dovish BoE outlook or potential rate cuts could cause yields on UK instruments to fall, reducing the attractiveness of the GBP against the USD. Expectations for a BoE rate cut have increased, and the market now expects 20 bps of easing for December, up from 11 bps. Today, the UK will release its services PMI economic data. If the data surprises, showing faster growth, it could support the GBP. However, the risks are currently more to the downside.
On the other hand, the USD is supported by expectations that the Federal Reserve may not be as aggressive in lowering interest rates as expected, thus making US yields more attractive, boosting demand for the USD. Global risk sentiment, coupled with uncertainty, is boosting the safe-haven USD, which could strengthen demand for global liquidity. US trade rhetoric against China has worried investors, prompting them to turn to safe assets like the US dollar and gold. Reuters sources revealed that the Trump administration plans to restrict global exports to China that make or contain US software in retaliation for China's export controls on rare earths and port fees for US vessels.
Today, the US will release CPI data, which is crucial for the Fed in determining interest rate policy. The annual CPI is expected to rise from 2.9% to 3.1%. If the actual figure is higher than forecast, this could strengthen expectations of an interest rate hike or at least keep interest rates at high levels for a longer period. A higher-than-expected US CPI tends to strengthen the USD because it increases speculation that the Fed will be hawkish. This could put downward pressure on GBPUSD. Conversely, if the US CPI is lower than forecast, it will tend to weaken the USD because it reduces the need for the Fed to raise interest rates, which can provide an upward push for GBPUSD.
If global stock markets, particularly in the US, strengthen, this could indicate risk-on sentiment, which can sometimes support the GBP. However, USD strength due to strong CPI figures could dominate this sentiment. The US dollar is generally supported by expectations of a stable or hawkish Fed policy stance, while the US economy remains relatively strong.
Today's price range, if volatility is high due to the US CPI, is forecast to be between 1.3240 and 1.3430. A conservative range is estimated at 1.3280 and 1.3380.










