GBP/USD's Fourth Consecutive Decline Deepens Amid Weak UK Inflation Data

Sterling has been under sustained selling pressure on Wednesday, with GBP/USD retreating roughly 0.67% and testing support near the 1.3060 level. The Pound’s weakness persisted despite the release of UK Consumer Price Index data, which failed to reignite bullish momentum in Cable trades. Sellers pushed the British currency to multi-week lows, marking another day of losses in what has now become a four-day downtrend.

Market Reaction to CPI Miss

Rather than providing the catalyst for Sterling strength, Wednesday’s inflation figures disappointed market participants and accelerated bearish momentum. The inability of UK CPI to generate meaningful buying interest suggests traders are looking past domestic data in favor of broader macro developments. This shift in sentiment has left GBP/USD vulnerable to further declines as positioning adjusts.

The NFP Data Vacuum Problem

The Federal Reserve’s decision to withhold October’s Nonfarm Payrolls report—due to data collection interruptions from the government shutdown—has created an unprecedented information gap for policymakers. The void means that Thursday’s release of September’s jobs data will likely struggle to command significant market attention, as a full month of missing October figures leaves the Fed without recent employment trends into the new year.

This data drought has already affected rate market expectations. According to the CME’s FedWatch Tool, the probability of a Federal Reserve rate cut on December 10 has fallen to approximately 30%, indicating traders are reassessing the timing of potential monetary easing. Weakening probability of near-term cuts typically supports currency volatility across pairs like GBP/USD and even broader market movements tracked through instruments such as ether to aud conversions, as investors recalibrate risk positioning across asset classes.

The technical setup for Sterling remains challenged, with continued resistance to recovery likely until clearer Fed guidance emerges.