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Hopes for rate cuts dashed by soaring inflation
By Rebecca Atkinson
The Bank of England has hinted that it will not cut interest rates again this year as the risk of rising inflation continues to dog efforts to bolster the slowing economy.
In the central bank's quarterly inflation report, Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, says the outlook for inflation has "deteriorated markedly" over the past three months. He warns that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) - the Government's chosen measure of inflation - could remain well above its 2% target if interest rates are cut by 0.5% this year.
Despite calls for interest rate cuts to help the slowing economy and housing market, it is likely the Bank of England will prioritise keeping a lid on inflation.
King also says: "We are travelling along a bumpy road as the economy rebalances. Monetary policy cannot - and should not - try to prevent that adjustment. The Monetary Policy Committee must focus on bringing inflation back to the 2% target in the medium term."
The latest figures show inflation soared to 3% in April, up from 2.5% in March, driven by high food and fuel costs.
The Inflation Report warns CPI could remain above 3% until well into 2009, and could even spike as high as 3.7%.
If CPI does rise to more than 3%, then King will be forced to put pen to paper and write to chancellor Alistair Darling to explain why inflation has escalated so far above its target.
King has only been required to write to the chancellor on one occasion since the central bank was given independence 11 years ago - in March last year, when inflation hit 3.1%.
The Bank of England's MPC is due to next meet and vote on interest rates on 5 June. Although it cut rates in April and February, it voted to freeze rates at 5% in May. The reasons for the freeze will not be clear until the minutes from May's meeting are published on 21 May, but the risk of rising inflation is likely to have been a key factor.
The Retail Price Index - which includes mortgage repayments - also increased in April to 4.2% from 3.8% in March.
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