Wednesday, 17 October 2012 08:53
Bank of England votes unanimously on policy decisions
The minutes of the last Monetary Policy Committee show that members voted unanimously on decisions about the base rate and the asset purchases.
The meeting was held on 6-7 October and members kept the base rate at 0.5 per cent, a rate unchanged since March 2009, while the asset purchase programme was kept at £375bn.
The committee felt there was "little to be gained" by increasing the amount of asset purchases but would assess the impact over the next month while it was preparing its November Inflation Report.
Some members felt further asset purchases would be effective for further stimulus but others questioned the magnitude of the impact on the broader economy.
It agreed inflation, which currently stands at 2.2 per cent, would remain above its two per cent target for the near term and would depend on a recovery in productivity.
It forecast a flat output for the remainder of 2012, somewhat weaker than it had forecast in its Inflation Report back in August.
On the new Funding for Lending scheme, the committee felt it would take longer for lower funding costs to feed through to business lending. However, it said the signs so far were "encouraging" and there had been announcements of new products by major UK lenders in recent months.
The next meeting will be held on 7-8 November with the minutes published on 21 November.
The meeting was held on 6-7 October and members kept the base rate at 0.5 per cent, a rate unchanged since March 2009, while the asset purchase programme was kept at £375bn.
The committee felt there was "little to be gained" by increasing the amount of asset purchases but would assess the impact over the next month while it was preparing its November Inflation Report.
Some members felt further asset purchases would be effective for further stimulus but others questioned the magnitude of the impact on the broader economy.
It agreed inflation, which currently stands at 2.2 per cent, would remain above its two per cent target for the near term and would depend on a recovery in productivity.
It forecast a flat output for the remainder of 2012, somewhat weaker than it had forecast in its Inflation Report back in August.
On the new Funding for Lending scheme, the committee felt it would take longer for lower funding costs to feed through to business lending. However, it said the signs so far were "encouraging" and there had been announcements of new products by major UK lenders in recent months.
The next meeting will be held on 7-8 November with the minutes published on 21 November.
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