BOE ‘Ready to Act’ on Inflation After 9-0 Vote to Hold Rates

Andrew Bailey.Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

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By Tom Rees and Alice Atkins

March 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC

Updated on

March 19, 2026 at 3:15 PM UTC

The Bank of England said it “stands ready to act” against a surge in inflation triggered by war in the Middle East, prompting traders to ramp up bets on an interest-rate hike as soon as next month.

The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee voted unanimously to leave rates unchanged at 3.75% on Thursday — their first decision without any dissent in four and a half years.