19/03/2002

Fall in inflation suggests frozen interest rates

New figures showing a fall in UK inflation have led to increased speculation that interest rates are unlikely to rise in the near future.

The annual rate of inflation – excluding mortgage repayments – decreased to 2.2 per cent during February, a fall of 0.4 per cent on the figure for January. Inflation including mortgage repayments fell to 1.5 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent in January.

The figures seem to point towards a relaxing of inflationary pressures, which could see the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee opting against a rise in interest rates during its next meeting on April 3 and 4.

January saw a rise in inflation, causing the rate to go above the Government’s “inflation target” of 2.5 per cent.

The increase was attributed to higher oil prices, an influence which was regarded as an isolated factor.

(CL)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 February 2002
Inflation rises but interest rates unchanged
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) have decided not to raise interest rates at its monthly meeting, despite inflation warnings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures released by the ONS revealed an underlying inflation rate that exceeded the rates anticipated by the Bank of England.
04 April 2002
Interest rates remain unchanged at 4 per cent
The Bank of England have announced that UK interest rates will remain unchanged at a 38-year low of four per cent following the monthly meeting of the bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The news was broadly welcomed as the UK, and Europe, continues to slowly edge out of last year's downturn.
08 August 2001
Economy slow down predicted by Bank of England
According to the latest economic analysis from the Bank of England, the UK economy will remain weak for the rest of this year. The Bank’s quarterly inflation report indicated that although the economy was expected to begin to recover in 2002 the current pressures on the euro zone economic area were intense.
11 April 2002
UK new investment projects fall
The latest Ernst & Young European Investment Monitor survey has revealed that the number of new investment projects into Europe in 2001 fell by 12 per cent on 2000 figures. Countries that performed poorly in 2001 included the UK with a 34 per cent decline from 575 projects to 377.
18 June 2002
UK inflation rate falls below two per cent
Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the UK inflation rate fell sharply last month to 1.8% in May from 2.3% in April.