Fact Service August 2016

Issue 31

Cut in interest rates


UK interest rates have been cut to a record low of 0.25% by the Bank of England.


The Bank said it expected the economy to stagnate for the rest of 2016 and suffer weak growth throughout next year.


The last interest rate cut — to 0.5% — was in March 2009 at the height of the economic crisis. So the rate has remained at 0.5% for over seven years.


Last month, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold interest rates, despite economists predicting a cut.


www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-36976528