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Bank cuts growth forecast amid Brexit worries Bank cuts growth forecast amid Brexit worries
(35 minutes later)
The Bank of England has cut its forecast for UK growth and warned that a lack of Brexit clarity is weighing on the economy. The Bank of England has cut its UK growth forecast and warned a lack of Brexit clarity is hitting the economy.
The Bank said uncertainty over the UK's departure from the EU had "intensified considerably" over the past month.The Bank said uncertainty over the UK's departure from the EU had "intensified considerably" over the past month.
Against a backdrop of weaker global growth, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.75%.Against a backdrop of weaker global growth, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.75%.
It said the economy was likely to grow by 0.2% in the final quarter of 2018. It said the economy was likely to grow by 0.2% in the final quarter of 2018, down from an earlier forecast of 0.3%.
That follows growth of 0.6% in the previous quarter.That follows growth of 0.6% in the previous quarter.
Bank staff had previously predicted growth of 0.3% for the final quarter.
The Bank expects slower economic growth to continue into 2019.The Bank expects slower economic growth to continue into 2019.
Pay boost What next for rates?
The Bank of England last raised interest rates in August to 0.75%, but has been reluctant to push them higher while uncertainty remains over Brexit.
But if there is some clarity, then economists say the Bank is likely to make a move.
"We continue to think that the MPC won't wait for signs of a recovery to emerge in the data and will raise Bank Rate to 1.0% in May, once MPs have signed off a Brexit deal late in the first quarter," said Samuel Tombs, Chief UK Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.
The UK government's decision to abandon a vote on the Brexit deal last week dragged down UK share prices and triggered a drop in the value of the pound.The UK government's decision to abandon a vote on the Brexit deal last week dragged down UK share prices and triggered a drop in the value of the pound.
Commercial bank funding costs had also "risen sharply", the Bank noted, which could push up consumer borrowing costs.Commercial bank funding costs had also "risen sharply", the Bank noted, which could push up consumer borrowing costs.
The Bank said the outlook for pay was brighter, with wages growing faster than policymakers expected in November.The Bank said the outlook for pay was brighter, with wages growing faster than policymakers expected in November.
Measures announced in the Budget at the end of October, including a multi-billion pound funding boost for the NHS, would lift growth by 0.3% over the next few years, the Bank said.Measures announced in the Budget at the end of October, including a multi-billion pound funding boost for the NHS, would lift growth by 0.3% over the next few years, the Bank said.
Lower oil prices were likely to push inflation below the Bank's 2% target by the end of the year. Policymakers expect inflation to remain there into the start of 2017. Lower oil prices were likely to push inflation below the Bank's 2% target by the end of the year. Policymakers expect inflation to remain there into the start of 2019.
A separate Bank survey suggested that business services firms, including law and accountancy companies, believed activity could slow "sharply" in the event of a no-deal Brexit.A separate Bank survey suggested that business services firms, including law and accountancy companies, believed activity could slow "sharply" in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The survey also indicated that Black Friday sales had "failed to meet many retailers' expectations" as cautious consumers kept spending down ahead of Christmas.The survey also indicated that Black Friday sales had "failed to meet many retailers' expectations" as cautious consumers kept spending down ahead of Christmas.
While business surveys suggest weak growth in the months ahead, the Bank noted that it was "it was possible that these surveys might be overstating the extent of any slowing".While business surveys suggest weak growth in the months ahead, the Bank noted that it was "it was possible that these surveys might be overstating the extent of any slowing".