Bank keeps interest rate at 0.5%; QE maintained at £200bn

It has also decided to maintain the quantitative easing programme at £200bn, despite growing calls for an increase. The Bank's decision on the base rate was widely expected by economists and extends its record spell at the historic low level, where it has been since March 2009. The Institute of Directors yesterday called on the Bank to extend its current £200bn quantitative easing program by £50bn, suggesting it was needed to prevent the economy from slipping into recession. Graeme Leach, the organisation's chief economist, said: "The time to launch QE2 has arrived. The downside ec...