Bank Base Rate to stay at 0.5% until 2016 (…probably)
Mark Carney, the Bank Of England’s new Governor, has announced his ‘forward guidance’ that the Bank does not intend to raise Bank Rate from 0.5% until the unemployment rate falls to 7%, which it forecasts will happen in mid 2016 — three years away. The Governor hopes that the announcement of this 3 year plan will instil confidence in the economy and help to encourage companies and consumers to borrow money without having to worry about any sudden, unforeseen rises in interest rates. It may well help, but of course it does hinge on that all-important unemployment rate falling to the desired level.
The Governor also stated 3 additional scenarios in which earlier action would become necessary: Read more