00:00The pound has climbed to its strongest level since the Brexit referendum, giving consumers
00:06a potential boost when buying goods from abroad or paying for holidays overseas.
00:10The measure compares sterling with a basket of 18 currencies and has reached a level last
00:15seen in June 2016. The currency fell after the referendum and weakened during the Brexit
00:21process, the pandemic and the 2022 mini-budget. Some traders point to stronger growth and
00:28political stability as reasons for the improvement. A stronger pound can help reduce the cost
00:33of imports, although higher energy prices remain a concern. Benefits could depend on how long
00:39sterling manages to maintain its strength.
