Interest rates left unchanged at 0.5% for 81st time

This was the 81st meeting in a row at which rates have been left unchanged at 0.5%, according to the BBC. External member Ian McCafferty was the only one to vote for a rate rise - he had already previously voted for a quarter-point rise. Policymakers based their decision on the continuing subdued inflation environment, which stood at -0.1% in October based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) and, they predicted, would be slightly positive in November. Elsewhere in Europe European Central Bank took steps to boost the eurozone economy last week by extending its €60bn stimulus programm...