The Bank of England in an almost unanimous decision cut interest rates by 25 basis points on Thursday, a boost relief for mortgage holders, but also raised its inflation forecast following on Labor’s government budget and global uncertainty, which most probably conditions future policy easing.
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, MPC at its meeting ending on 31 July 2024, voted by a majority of 5–4 to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Four members preferred to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%.
The UK economy is on flat growth for a couple of years, while government forecasts of greater activity vanish, and the Bank of England could still rise interest rates further. In effect the BoE has warned rates will remain high for some time or even rise higher. Rate currently stands at 5,25%, the highest in fifteen years.
The United Kingdom interest rates were left unchanged after the Bank of England said price rises were slowing faster than expected. Interest rates were held at 5.25%, already their highest for 15 years, and comes after figures on Wednesday revealed an unexpected slowdown in inflation in August.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has said interest rates are close to their peak, but that they may still have further to rise. He told MPs on Wednesday we are much nearer now to the top of the cycle of rate rises.
The Bank of England, contrary to market expectations of a 25 basis points hike, on Thursday surprised with a 50 basis point hike to interest rates, its 13th consecutive increase as policymakers grapple with persistently high inflation.
Can’t we just print more money? is a new pop-economics book, written by the Bank of England, which will be published this May in partnership with Cornerstone Press (Penguin Random House).
The U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of England ramped up their emergency responses to the world's escalating coronavirus recession on Thursday as they pushed deeper into territory once considered fraught with risk for central bankers.