2019 British Pound Forecast
Forecasts for the pound (GBP USD) varies from bank to bank and from month to month. This article takes a look at the general trend in GBP USD forecasts and how it might impact you.
All the major banks have released their forecasts for the British Pound next year.
For the latest look at these forecasts, read our British Pound Forecasts for 2020.
Bank forecasts for the British Pound in 2019
The Great British Pound (GBP or Pound Sterling) is slowly gaining, up 1% since the beginning of the year. This is after a terrible performance in 2018, dropping 11%. Uncertainty over "Brexit" could mean further declines in the GBP near-term.
For the rest of 2019, most bank analysts predict the pound sterling will gradually improve. Generally speaking, banks expect the rate to rise towards 1.400.
Check today's British Pound (GBP) Exchange Rate: Currency Converter and Graph
Updated in May, 2019
Compare British Pound Exchange Rates
Compare exchange rates from Australian banks and foreign exchange leaders.
You don't like getting ripped off. So why are you ok with paying exorbitant fees and rates on currency conversions? You shouldn't be.
At The Currency Shop we help you compare providers to find the best exchange rates and lowest fees right now. Leaving you more time and energy to conquer the world.
GBP Crosses Bank Forecasts
GBP EUR forecast for 2019
After a choppy performance in 2018, major banks generally agree the GBP EUR will move higher in 2019. On average, major banks are forecasting the rate will either remain unchanged from current levels of 1.123 or to rise up towards 1.200.
GBP AUD forecast for 2019
The GBP AUD exchange rate is set to decline near term according to major banks. The opposite is thought to be true longer term. It looks like most banks expect the GBP AUD rate in 2019 to move towards the upper end of the 1.700-1.900 range from last year, but perhaps with a few more bumps.
GBP NZD forecast for 2019
The GBP NZD cross is one of the most volatile GBP currency pairs. After a recent spike, the GBP NZD exchange rate has declined slightly to 1.886. Longer term outlooks for 2019 suggest the GBP NZD cross rate will have a choppy performance only to end the year around 2.000.
How does a weak GBP affect me?
Expats and Pensioners
A weaker pound is disastrous for British people living abroad. Many who have moved overseas will see a dramatic fall in spending power. The the GBP could improve in 2018, but the outlook is uncertain.
For pensioners, many who have retired abroad will see a dramatic fall in the spending power of any UK state or private pension income with a weaker sterling.
A couple years ago £100 pounds would have gotten you $200 in Australia, one of the most popular retirement destinations for British expats. But now the same £100 pounds of income will only return $172 Australian dollars, almost 15% less.
If you’re in a hurry to sell your UK asset, such as a house or company, to support your lifestyle overseas, you might get more interest from foreign buyers with a weaker pound. While you’ll get more demand for your asset, you might not get the value you want from the sale.
Travellers
It’s not really a good time for Brits to go abroad, but if the pound does improve slightly in 2018 it might be ok to do some summer travel.
Holidays in Europe and elsewhere are currently still painfully expensive, which means the idea of a staycation holiday closer to home might be more tempting during the winter months.
Foreign tourists visiting the UK will benefit from a weak GBP. So UK tourist attractions and anything associated with the leisure industry, such as restaurants and hotels will do well. Working in these industries will certainly be beneficial.
What are the key influences on the GBP?
1. British (UK) Economy
The UK is growing – but really slowly. This means the pound sterling is unlikely to rise strongly. Many were predicting a drastic economic collapse after the UK left the European Union (known as Brexit), but this hasn’t happened. Needless to say, many are unclear on what will happen next – and this uncertainty is negative for the GBP.
2. Politics
British politics has a big influence on the Pound. When the UK left the European Union in 2016, many people questioned whether the UK would be better off, which created much uncertainty. Greater uncertainty from politics means investors will sell the GDP, because there is a greater chance of it getting weaker.
3. Other Currencies
The US dollar (USD) significantly influences the GBP. Generally, when the USD gets stronger, the GBP is relatively weaker and vice versa. Interestingly, the pound sterling is one of the relatively few currencies that is worth more than the US dollar (meaning that one pound buys more than one dollar).