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GBP/USD - Live Chart & Exchange Rate

1 GBP = 1.3247 USD

Indicative rate, updated 22 hours ago. Not a live dealing rate - confirm with your broker before trading.

GBP/USD Sentiment Gauge

A live technical-analysis reading for GBP/USD, from Strong Sell to Strong Buy, updated automatically by TradingView. Forex has no reliable, freely-published Fear & Greed Index the way stocks or crypto do, so this momentum-based gauge is shown instead.

GBP/USD tracks the British Pound against the US Dollar and is one of the most traded currency pairs in the world. Moves are driven mainly by Bank of England and Federal Reserve policy, with bank of england policy and federal reserve interest-rate policy also important.

Rates shown here are indicative only, sourced periodically rather than streamed live. Confirm the exact rate with your bank or broker before converting funds or opening a trade.

GBP/USD Key Statistics

Latest

1.3247

1 Oct 2026

Highest since Mar 2024

1.3797

28 Jan 2026

Lowest since Mar 2024

1.2203

15 Jan 2025

12-month average

1.3413

1.3023 – 1.3797

30 days: -2.92% 90 days: +0.10% 1 year: -1.45%

Over the past year GBP/USD has fallen 1.45%, meaning the GBP has weakened against the USD. In the last 30 days it has moved down 2.92%. Across the last 12 months it traded between 1.3023 and 1.3797. Its highest level in the data window (since March 2024) was 1.3797 on 28 Jan 2026, and its lowest was 1.2203 on 15 Jan 2025.

Based on weekly data from 6 Mar 2024 to 1 Oct 2026. Source: weekly rate snapshots (currency-api). A rising rate means the GBP is strengthening against the USD. Past performance does not predict future results.

What Moves GBP/USD

A pair's price is one currency's value measured against another, so the economy behind each side matters.

British Pound (GBP)

United Kingdom · Bank of England (BoE) · Free float

The British Pound (sterling) is the oldest currency still in use and one of the most traded, backed by London's position as a global financial centre.

Major contributors to the economy

  • Financial services
  • Professional and business services
  • Manufacturing and aerospace
  • Creative industries
  • Energy

Key factors

  • Bank of England policy. Rate decisions and the vote split of the Monetary Policy Committee move sterling.
  • UK inflation. The UK has had higher inflation than peers, so CPI surprises matter a lot.
  • Fiscal credibility. Budgets and government borrowing plans can move the Pound sharply.
  • Trade relations. Post-Brexit trade terms with the EU affect the growth outlook.

US Dollar (USD)

United States · Federal Reserve (Fed) · Free float

The US Dollar is the world's dominant reserve and trading currency. It sits on one side of roughly nine in ten forex trades, and most commodities, including gold and oil, are priced in it.

Major contributors to the economy

  • Services and finance
  • Technology
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Energy (a leading oil and gas producer)
  • Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
  • Agriculture and defence exports

Key factors

  • Federal Reserve interest-rate policy. Rate decisions, projections and speeches by Fed officials set expectations for US interest rates, the single biggest driver of Dollar value.
  • US inflation and jobs data. CPI/PCE inflation and the monthly Non-Farm Payrolls report shift rate expectations and move the Dollar within minutes.
  • Treasury yields. Higher US bond yields relative to other countries attract capital and lift the Dollar.
  • Safe-haven demand. In global stress the Dollar usually rallies as investors seek safety and liquidity.
  • US fiscal and political developments. Government debt levels, budget standoffs, tariffs and trade policy affect confidence in US assets.

How GBP and USD Interact

The US Dollar is a traditional safe haven. In periods of market stress, investors tend to move money into it, which often pushes it higher against the British Pound even when local economic data is unchanged.

Central-bank policy matters on both sides: the Bank of England (BoE) and the Federal Reserve (Fed). When one of them is expected to keep interest rates higher than the other, that currency usually attracts capital and strengthens; a narrowing gap tends to reverse the move.

Markets to Watch

  • UK 10-year gilt yield GBP

    Sharp moves can signal stress or support for sterling

  • FTSE 100 GBP

    Large exporters often move inversely to the Pound

  • US 10-year Treasury yield USD

    Typically rises with the Dollar

  • Gold USD

    Usually moves inversely to the Dollar

  • S&P 500 / risk sentiment USD

    Risk-off episodes tend to boost the Dollar

Events & Data to Follow

  • GBP Bank of England rate decisions
  • GBP UK CPI
  • GBP UK jobs and wage data
  • GBP Government budget statements
  • USD FOMC meetings (8 per year)
  • USD Non-Farm Payrolls (first Friday of the month)
  • USD CPI and PCE inflation
  • USD Fed chair speeches and meeting minutes

Historical Milestones

  1. 1992 GBP

    On "Black Wednesday" the Pound was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

  2. 2008 USD

    The global financial crisis triggered a surge in safe-haven Dollar demand.

  3. 2014-15 USD

    The Fed signalled tighter policy while other central banks eased, driving a powerful Dollar rally.

  4. 2016 GBP

    The Brexit referendum caused one of the largest one-day falls in sterling's history.

  5. 2020 USD

    In March 2020 a global "dash for Dollars" sent the currency sharply higher before the Fed flooded markets with liquidity.

  6. 2022 GBP

    A mini-budget shock sent GBP/USD to a record low near 1.04.

  7. 2022 USD

    The fastest Fed hiking cycle in decades pushed the Dollar to a roughly 20-year high, including parity with the Euro.

Why GBP/USD Matters to Tanzanian Traders

Most Tanzanian traders trade major pairs like GBP/USD because they have the tightest spreads, the most liquidity and the most analysis available. Trading accounts are usually held in US Dollars, so Dollar pairs are also easy to follow.

Compare brokers offering these pairs →

Risks & Trading Hours

  • Fiscal and political surprises. (GBP)
  • Persistent inflation risk. (GBP)
  • Surprise policy shifts or data can cause abrupt moves. (USD)
  • Political events such as tariffs or debt-ceiling standoffs can shake the Dollar. (USD)

Most active: London session • New York session (and the London-New York overlap)

GBP/USD FAQ

What is the current GBP/USD exchange rate?

1 GBP is worth about 1.3247 USD (indicative, updated 22 hours ago). Always confirm the exact rate with your bank or broker before you convert or trade.

What is the all-time high and low of GBP/USD?

In the data we track (since 6 Mar 2024), GBP/USD peaked at 1.3797 on 28 Jan 2026 and bottomed at 1.2203 on 15 Jan 2025.

What moves the GBP/USD exchange rate?

GBP/USD is influenced by the relative strength of the British Pound and the US Dollar. Key factors include: Bank of England policy, UK inflation, Federal Reserve interest-rate policy, US inflation and jobs data. See the sections above for the full list.

When is the best time to trade GBP/USD?

Activity and liquidity are typically highest during: London session • New York session (and the London-New York overlap). Spreads are usually tighter when the relevant markets are open.

Is GBP/USD good for beginners?

GBP/USD is one of the more liquid pairs, with tight spreads at most brokers, which makes it a reasonable choice for beginners. Practise on a free demo account first.

This page is educational. Rates, statistics and commentary are indicative and may contain errors or be out of date.

Other Currency Pairs

EUR/USD USD/JPY USD/CHF USD/CAD AUD/USD NZD/USD All pairs →

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