Experts: BoE could lower unemployment target before interest rate hike

Bank governor Mark Carney (pictured) has said that he will not raise interest rates above their historic low of 0.5% until unemployment falls to 7%, predicting this would not be reached until 2016. But unemployment has been falling sharply - down to a lower than expected 7.4% in October - as the recovery gains traction, meaning the threshold could be hit far sooner. BoE policymakers will hold their first meeting of the new year this week. While the Bank is not expected to make any changes to its forward guidance policy at this week's meeting, it could reduce the unemployment target to...