Mortgage costs could jump for millions, Bank says

In its latest Financial Stability Report, the Bank said household finances had remained resilient in general.

“While many UK households, including renters, are still facing pressures from the increased cost of living and higher interest rates, the share of households who are behind in paying their mortgages is low by historical standards,” it said.

“And the share of households spending a high proportion of their income on mortgage payments is expected to remain low.”

Looking at the global picture, the Bank said “uncertainty around, and risks to, the global economic outlook have increased”.

The Bank did not specifically mention US President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to put import tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China, but noted the “potential to increased global fragmentation” of trade.

It said this potential for trade fragmentation “poses risks to UK financial stability”.