- The Bank of England is widely expected to maintain interest rates at 3.75% for the sixth consecutive time at Thursday's Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
- UK Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to a five-month high of 3.1% in August, moving further away from the central bank's 2% target.
- Economists warn that upcoming energy price cap rises and surging oil prices could drive inflation towards 4%, increasing pressure for a rate hike later this year.
- Three of the nine committee members previously voted to increase rates to 4%, reflecting growing divisions over the current wait-and-see approach.
- The potential rate freeze comes as both the European Central Bank and the US Federal Reserve move towards tighter monetary policy amid global price pressures.
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