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Commons Briefing paper by Dominic Webb. It was first published on Friday, 27 March 2015. It was last updated on Friday, 2 October 2026.


Sterling exchange rates: Economic indicators

Economic indicators are quick-read summaries of the latest data focusing on different aspects of the UK economy. The full suite of indicators can be found on the main Economic Indicators page.

The Sterling Exchange Rate Index (SERI) measures sterling’s value against a ‘basket’ of currencies, ‘trade‑weighted’ (based on currencies’ relative importance in UK trade).

The SERI fell by 0.6% between August and September, having increased by 0.2% between July and August. It was 0.3% higher in September compared with a year earlier. It is 19.3% below its January 2007 peak.

Line chart showing Sterling Exchange Rate Index since 1994. The index rose by 19% between 1996 and 1998. It remained fairly stable until 2008 when it fell by 12%. It fell by 10% in 2016. Since then, it has remained below its 2015 level, although the index has risen by 5% over the last three years.

Between August and September, the value of the pound decreased by 1.0% against the dollar, to $1.34. The value of the pound reached $1.43 in April 2018, its highest level since the EU referendum. The pound fell to $1.08, its lowest ever level, in September 2022 (based on daily spot exchange rates). Sterling fell by 0.3% against the euro between August and September, to €1.17.

This page is updated when new data is published. The next source updates will be:

Download document
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN02811/SN02811.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Research briefing
Reference
SN02811 
Category
Economic indicators
Subjects
Currencies Economic situation Exchange rates
Contains statistics
Yes
Published by
Economic Policy and Statistics Section
House of Commons Library
Link
View this Research briefing on researchbriefings.parliament.uk