The monetary policy committee is expected to continue increasing rates next year GILL ALLEN FOR THE TIMESHouseholds should be spared an interest rate rise until the current political uncertainty clears early next year, assuming it does, The Times’ panel of economic experts has said. The Bank of England will announce its December rate decision tomorrow when it is expected to leave policy unchanged. The Times Shadow Monetary Policy Committee, a group of nine former ratesetters and senior economic figures, has urged the Bank to meet those expectations. Sir John Gieve, a former deputy governor, called on the Bank to “hold tight and hope that the spirit of reckless wishful thinking that seems to have gripped all sides of parliament changes in the new year”. Sir Steve Robson, a former Treasury mandarin, said there was an argument for raising rates by a…

Source: The Times December 19, 2018 00:06 UTC