The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates on hold at 0.5% amid concerns over the strength of the economic recovery. The decision by the bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) means rates will stay at their current record low for an 18th month. It suggests the committee does not see high inflation as a serious concern.
The Bank of England held interest rates at record lows as policy-makers weighed up the impact of a Eurozone bailout and a hung parliament. The Bank's Monetary Policy Committee voted to hold rates at 0.5% and left its £200 billion program to boost the money supply unchanged.
UK Primer Minister Gordon Brown’s government borrowed a record £163.4 billion in the 2009/2010 financial year, according to figures published Thursday. While it is the biggest budget deficit since the Second World War, the figure is lower than Chancellor Alistair Darling’s prediction in the budget of £166.5 billion for the year.