UK policy-makers are laying the ground for a possible interest rate cut, which could come as soon as January 30.

Bank of England governor Mark Carney and monetary policy committee members Michael Saunders and Gertjan Vlieghe have all indicated degrees of willingness to cut rates.

The case for a cut has been strengthened by a run of weak data. The latest inflation figures, published today (January 15), showed headline CPI slipping to 1.3% in December, down from 1.5% in November.

Early