BoE holds rates at 4.5%

The decision marks the sixth consecutive month the BoE has chosen to maintain rates at their current level. Earlier this week the Land Registry revealed figures which showed house prices nationally had fallen by almost 2% in the last quarter of 2005 dragging overall annual house price inflation down to 4.6%. Meanwhile, manufacturing output decreased by 1% in the fourth quarter of 2005 marking the third time in five years that output has fallen. Energy prices and the poor performance of the high street are again bound to have been factors in the decision of the MPC to hold rates as wel...