During the meeting held on 1 and 2 August all MPC members agreed the Bank rate should be maintained at 0.5% and the Bank of England’s QE programme should be unchanged.
However, for some members, the latter decision was “finely balanced” and some felt there was a case for more QE.
The members noted CPI inflation is on track to meet the 2% target in the coming months after inflation fell from a peak of 5.2% in September 2011 to 2.4% in June.
The minutes also said it is likely the UK economy will continue in its “disappointing pace” to GDP recovery, but were upbeat about the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) and said it may have a greater impact on growth than the “relatively cautious assumptions” made in the August inflation report projections.
However, deep concerns about the eurozone remain.
“The global economy had continued to slow and very substantial risks remained in the euro area. These could, if they crystallised, have a considerable impact on the stability of the global banking system and on economic activity in the UK.
“Even if a disorderly outcome were avoided, it was probable the continuing threat of such an event would weigh on domestic economic activity for some time to come.
“Indeed, some banks had been planning to cut their lending to the UK economy in the coming months, before the details of the FLS had been announced.”
The MPC said it would monitor the impact of the FLS in the coming months and assess whether other policy options should be used, indicating the Bank has not ruled out an interest rate cut to zero.
Minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee’s July meeting, held on 4 and 5 July, which saw the Bank’s quantitative easing programme expand by a further £50bn, saw the committee soften its tone on the prospect of cutting the base rate to below 0.5%.
The committee had previously decided a rate cut was less attractive than an extension of the asset purchase programme.
