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UK interest rates cut to 0.25% UK interest rates cut to 0.25%
(35 minutes later)
UK interest rates have been cut from 0.5% to 0.25% - a record low and the first cut since 2009.UK interest rates have been cut from 0.5% to 0.25% - a record low and the first cut since 2009.
The Bank of England announced a range of measures to stimulate the UK economy including buying £60bn of UK government bonds and £10bn of corporate bonds.The Bank of England announced a range of measures to stimulate the UK economy including buying £60bn of UK government bonds and £10bn of corporate bonds.
The Bank also announced the biggest cut to its growth forecasts since it started making them in 1992. The Bank also announced the biggest cut to its growth forecasts since it started making them in 1983.
It has reduced its growth prediction for 2017 from the 2.3% it was expecting in May to 0.8%.It has reduced its growth prediction for 2017 from the 2.3% it was expecting in May to 0.8%.
As part of the package of measures designed to boost growth following the UK's vote to leave the EU in June, the Bank is also introducing a new Term Funding Scheme, which will lend directly to banks at rates close to the new 0.25% base rate, to encourage them to keep lending.
The exact rates they are offered will depend on whether the total amount they are lending has fallen. The scheme is designed to make sure that lower interest rates are passed on to businesses and households.
The money will be lent to banks for four years and the Bank has said the terms of the scheme will not become less generous for at least 18 months. It predicts that the amount of money lent through the scheme could reach about £100bn.
Separately, the corporate bond-buying scheme will purchase up to £10bn of bonds issued by companies outside the financial sector.
Only companies considered to be contributing to the UK economy will be eligible. More details of the scheme will be released in September.
The extensive package of measures comes despite the central bank predicting that inflation would rise above its 2% target as a result of the falling value of the pound.
A weaker pound makes imported goods more expensive, which boosts inflation. The pound fell by 1% against the dollar following the Bank's announcement.
The Bank has warned that there will be "little growth in GDP in the second half of the year" although the forecast for 2016 growth has been left unchanged at 2% as a result of stronger-than-expected growth in the first half.
The forecast for 2018 has been cut from 2.3% to 1.8%.
The rate of unemployment is expected to rise to 5.4% next year and 5.6% in 2018.
The decision to cut interest rates to 0.25% was approved unanimously by the nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and is the first change in interest rates since March 2009.The decision to cut interest rates to 0.25% was approved unanimously by the nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) and is the first change in interest rates since March 2009.
The £60bn increase in quantitative easing to £435bn was approved by a vote of 6-3, with Kristin Forbes, Ian McCafferty and Martin Weale preferring to wait until more concrete data is available rather than relying on surveys.The £60bn increase in quantitative easing to £435bn was approved by a vote of 6-3, with Kristin Forbes, Ian McCafferty and Martin Weale preferring to wait until more concrete data is available rather than relying on surveys.
The corporate bond buying scheme was opposed by one member: Kristin Forbes.The corporate bond buying scheme was opposed by one member: Kristin Forbes.
Pound falls
As part of the package of measures designed to boost the economy following the UK's vote to leave the EU in June, the Bank is also introducing a new Term Funding Scheme.
This will lend directly to banks at rates close to the new 0.25% base rate to encourage them to pass on the lower interest rates to businesses and households.
Analysis: Kamal Ahmed, economics editor
The Bank of England is not very confident about the future of the economy.
It says growth will fall dramatically, announcing the biggest downgrade to its growth forecast since it started inflation reports in 1993.
The economy, it says, will be 2.5% smaller in three years' time than it believed it would be when the Bank last opined on these matters in May.
Unemployment will rise (although only marginally), inflation will rise, real income growth will slow and house prices will decline.
Growth, the Bank believes, will fall perilously close to zero over the final six months of this year.
It predicts that the amount of money lent through the scheme could reach about £100bn.
Read Kamal's full analysis here
What the interest rate cut means for you
Separately, the corporate bond-buying scheme will purchase up to £10bn of bonds issued by companies outside the financial sector. Only companies considered to be contributing to the UK economy will be eligible. More details of the scheme will be released in September.
The extensive series of measures was revealed the central bank predicting that inflation would rise above its 2% target as a result of the falling value of the pound.
A weaker pound makes imported goods more expensive, which boosts inflation. The pound fell by 1% against the dollar following the Bank's announcement.
A weaker outlook
The Bank has warned that there will be "little growth in GDP in the second half of the year" although the forecast for 2016 growth has been left unchanged at 2% as a result of stronger-than-expected growth in the first half.
The forecast for 2018 has been cut from 2.3% to 1.8%.
It also expects the unemployment rate to rise to 5.4% next year and 5.6% in 2018.
The MPC meeting was the last one before it moves to only meeting eight times a year, meaning that it is not scheduled to meet again until 3 November, although it can call an extra meeting before then if it wants to.The MPC meeting was the last one before it moves to only meeting eight times a year, meaning that it is not scheduled to meet again until 3 November, although it can call an extra meeting before then if it wants to.
A majority of MPC members said that if the economy performed as they expected in the coming months, they would support cutting interest rates again before the end of the year to their lowest possible level of "close to, but a little above, zero".A majority of MPC members said that if the economy performed as they expected in the coming months, they would support cutting interest rates again before the end of the year to their lowest possible level of "close to, but a little above, zero".
Fighting off recession
Before the referendum, there were warnings of a recession if there was a vote to leave the EU.Before the referendum, there were warnings of a recession if there was a vote to leave the EU.
The Bank of England's quarterly inflation report does not foresee a recession, although all of its forecasts take into account the stimulus measures.The Bank of England's quarterly inflation report does not foresee a recession, although all of its forecasts take into account the stimulus measures.
Even with those measures, the Bank still predicts little growth in the second half of the year, suggesting there could have been a recession if the Bank had not acted.Even with those measures, the Bank still predicts little growth in the second half of the year, suggesting there could have been a recession if the Bank had not acted.
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has written to Chancellor Philip Hammond to outline the measures taken by the MPC as well as explaining why inflation remains, for now, significantly below its target rate. Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, has written to Chancellor Philip Hammond to outline the measures taken by the MPC as well as explaining why inflation remains, for now, significantly below its target rate.
In response, Mr Hammond wrote: "Alongside the actions that the Bank is taking, I am prepared to take any necessary steps to support the economy and promote confidence."In response, Mr Hammond wrote: "Alongside the actions that the Bank is taking, I am prepared to take any necessary steps to support the economy and promote confidence."
He said that those plans would be set out in the Autumn Statement.He said that those plans would be set out in the Autumn Statement.