The Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously at this month's meeting to hold the base rate at 0.5 per cent and stock of asset purchases at £375bn. The committee met on 5-6 September, the first meeting with new member Ian McCafferty, former chief economist at the Confederation of British Industry. Some members felt further asset purchases would be necessary in due course and one member felt more asset purchases should be made sooner as he did not feel the medium-term outlook would be resolved in the coming months. The committee agreed it would gain further insight over the next few months into the impact of previous asset purchase decisions, both here and abroad, before making a decision.
The committee also decided it would wait until the effects of the Funding for Lending service could be determined before making any decisions. Funding for Lending is a scheme jointly set up by the Bank of England and the Treasury to boost lending to families and small-businesses. However, the committee said heightened uncertainty and risk aversion could limit the demand for credit from the scheme. There was also a continued risk that inflation, currently at 2.5 per cent, would fall slower than expected and remain above the two per cent target. The next meeting will be held on 3-4 October.
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