In This Article:
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Graphic: Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv (Updates prices, adds Black Wednesday details)
By Alun John
LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Sterling marked the 30th anniversary of "Black Wednesday" by falling to a fresh 37-year low against the U.S. dollar on Friday, and a 19-month trough against the euro, after weaker-than-expected retail sales figures reinforced fears about Britain's economy.
The pound fell more than 1% against the dollar to $1.1351, its lowest since 1985, and was last trading at $1.1404.
Most major currencies have been struggling against the dollar in recent months, and the greenback was given another leg-up this week after hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation caused markets to price in a further large rate hike from the Federal Reserve next week.
The pound has particularly struggled, however, and the euro rose to as high as 87.71 pence on Friday, its highest level since Feb 2021. It was last up 0.39% at 87.45 pence.
On Sept. 16 1992, Britain crashed out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism - a system designed to reduce currency fluctuations ahead of the launch of the euro - causing a sharp devaluation in the pound.
That day, now known as Black Wednesday, saw sterling fall 4.3% to finish the day at $1.778, well above today's level.
Friday's drop followed data that showed retail sales volumes slipped 1.6% in monthly terms in August - the biggest fall since December 2021 and worse than all forecasts in a Reuters poll of economists that had pointed to a 0.5% fall.
This was just the latest bad news for the British economy, which faces slower economic growth and more persistent inflation than any other major economy next year, the International Monetary Fund forecasts.
"The grinding backdrop of everything that's going on is weighing on sterling, with the UK running these massive external deficits and the risks around the new prime minister's policies adding to that," said John Hardy, head of FX strategy at Saxobank.
Britain's new leader, Liz Truss, last week announced a cap on soaring consumer energy bills for two years to cushion the economic shock of war in Ukraine with measures likely to cost the country upwards of 100 billion pounds ($115 billion).
British finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng is due to make a fiscal statement on Sept. 23 to explain how this will be funded, and also is expected to say how he will deliver the tax cuts promised by Truss during her campaign for leadership of the Conservative Party.