18/09/2001

Interest rates cut to lowest level for 37 years

The Bank of England has opted to cut interest rates by one quarter per cent despite a higher than expected rise in domestic inflation.

The move means the UK falls into line with reductions announced by both the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank as part of a worldwide attempt to prevent global economic collapse in the wake of last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks on America.

However, doubts have been expressed over the appropriateness of such a cut in UK interest rates considering the sharp rise in inflation, which has risen by 0.4 per cent to stand at 2.6 per cent – higher than the Government’s target level of 2.5 per cent, and greater than analysts’ initial predictions. However, economists have dismissed the increase as only a temporary rise, in terms of the outlook for inflation rates two years ahead of the current economic climate.

This is the fourth instance this year of a cut in interest rates, which have been designed to stimulate the economy and to avert further deepening of the recession in the manufacturing sector. The latest cut also brings interest rates to their lowest level for 37 years. (CL)

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