Gilt yields rise ignored by providers

Gilt yields have reduced over the last six months from a high point in December 2015 of 2.29% to the current level of 1.99%, a fall of 20 basis points. This would suggest annuity rates would reduce by about 2.0% but they are actually 6.4% lower based on our benchmark example.

The above table shows how the standard annuity rates continue to reduce since November 2015 based on our benchmark of a person aged 65 years old with a fund of £100,000 buying a lifetime annuity on a single life, level basis.

The fall in the rate since November of £361 pa would reduce the lifetime of the annuitant and based on the Office of National Statistics (ONS) we would expect a male to live for 17.3 years and he will have £6,245 less over his lifetime. For a female she can expected to live for 20.4 years increasing her income by £7,364.

How interest rates affect annuities

Interest rates in the US, Europe and UK have been kept at a record low level following the financial crisis in 2008. Lowering interest rates is one of the methods used by central banks to prevent the economy collapsing by reducing the cost of borrowing.

The effects of the financial crisis according to the Federal Reserve projections is show the rate of interest required for stable growth and prices will remain low for the foreseeable future.

A rise in short term interest rates will have a knock-on effect on long term interest rates such as bonds and gilts. For the US, Europe and UK a target interest rate level is 2.0% and any increase in rates would see yields increase in the short term. However, these may drop back again if there is not a momentum to raise interest rates over time.