Interest rates

The Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.5 per cent and refuses to extend its quantitative easing programme to boost the supply of money in the economy.

Chancellor George Osborne admits that the economic recovery will be “choppy”, but says he is sticking by his plans for deficit reduction despite evidence of a slowdown.

London’s leading shares index fell 4.5 per cent today, the 9th biggest fall in its history, amid fears the world is sliding into a double dip recession.

Germany’s Angela Merkel shows unity with France’s Nicolas Sarkozy at a meeting in Paris, urging Eurozone partners to pass laws on deficit reduction, but they say there will be no pooling of debt.

As the Government’s financial watchdog warns the UK economy will grow more slowly this year than expected, Channel 4 News looks at the UK’s place in the unhappy global economic picture.

Record discounts in the summer sales help deliver a surprise fall in inflation, which economists say could see the Bank of England freezing interest rates until spring 2012.

Ahead of a confidence vote in Greece’s government, which is battling to save the country’s economy, a leading economist tells Channel 4 News a Greek debt default is “almost inevitable”.

Official figures reveal that May’s inflation rate remains at a two and half year high, as research shows that the poorest have been worst hit by rising food and drink costs.

The Bank of England keeps interest rates on hold, with the Monetary Policy Committee voting to maintain the Bank’s base rate at 0.5 per cent for the 27th month in a row.

Britain’s hard-pressed householders face a new blow, as the big power companies prepare a round of double-digit price rises. Faisal Islam says it will push up inflation and pressure interest rates.

As the Bank of England cuts its growth forecast and warns of volatile inflation, one economist tells Channel 4 News the Bank’s latest figures may still be too optimistic.

The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 0.5 per cent. The decision to maintain record low rates was widely expected after a set of gloomy economic indicators.

Economists tell Channel 4 News interest rates for home owners may stay on hold until the end of next year as inflation dropped unexpectedly last month to 4 per cent.

As the Bank of England meets to set interest rates, one of its main headaches is soaring petrol prices. Channel 4 News maps where you can get the cheapest, and most expensive, petrol in the UK.