Europe

Bank of England keeps interest rates steady amid uncertainty

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Thursday, April 14, 2016 file photo, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney speaks during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings at the World Bank in Washington. The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates steady amid signs that the economy is beginning to falter and uncertainty over next month’s vote on whether Britain should leave the European Union. The bank’s nine policymakers unanimously agreed to leave the key interest rate at 0.5 percent. Governor Mark Carney will be questioned about the economic risks of leaving the EU at a news conference at which he will present new growth forecasts for the country. (AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz, file) (The Associated Press)

Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney delivers his monthly inflation report at the Bank of England in the City of London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates steady amid signs that the economy is beginning to falter and uncertainty over next month’s vote on whether Britain should leave the European Union. The bank’s nine policymakers unanimously agreed to leave the key interest rate at 0.5 percent. Governor Mark Carney will be questioned about the economic risks of leaving the EU at a news conference at which he will present new growth forecasts for the country. (Dylan Martinez/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (The Associated Press)

Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney delivers his monthly inflation report at the Bank of England in the City of London, Thursday, May 12, 2016. The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates steady amid signs that the economy is beginning to falter and uncertainty over next month’s vote on whether Britain should leave the European Union. The bank’s nine policymakers unanimously agreed to leave the key interest rate at 0.5 percent. Governor Mark Carney will be questioned about the economic risks of leaving the EU at a news conference at which he will present new growth forecasts for the country. (Dylan Martinez/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES (The Associated Press)

The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates steady amid signs that the economy is beginning to falter and uncertainty over next month's vote on whether Britain should leave the European Union.

The bank's nine policymakers unanimously agreed to leave the key interest rate at 0.5 percent.

Governor Mark Carney will be questioned about the economic risks of leaving the EU at a news conference at which he will present new growth forecasts for the country. Recent reports have suggested that the Bank of England has warned banks to prepare for a rate reduction if the U.K. votes to leave the 28-nation bloc in the June 23 referendum.

Carney has said the next move in rates will likely be up.