Carney warns over '˜sluggish' economy as rate held at 0.25%

Mark Carney said mounting uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU is holding back business investment and consumer spending as the Bank cut its growth forecasts for this year and next.

The Bank kept rates on hold at 0.25% as Britons suffer amid a tightening squeeze on incomes from soaring prices.

Mr Carney said Brexit uncertainty “weighs on the decisions of businesses and households and holds down both demand and supply”.

He cautioned that the pressure on families would continue for the next few quarters, with Britain in the “teeth” of the income squeeze and real wages at their weakest since the middle of the 19th century.

But he said wages will start to outpace inflation next year, while growth will also begin to pick up.

The central bank boss said rates are likely to begin to rise as the economic outlook improves.

He said: “Growth remains sluggish in the near term as the squeeze on households’ real incomes continues to weigh on consumption.”

But he added: “Even a limited pick-up in growth is likely to have consequences for the stance of monetary policy.”

Mr Carney said the Bank believes households and the wider economy could withstand a rate hike, “if appropriate”.

Financial markets are pencilling in two rate rises over the next few years, though the Bank said borrowing costs may need to rise by more than the City expects.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6-2 to keep rates at 0.25%, with fewer members this month calling for a rise as lacklustre economic growth has weakened support for a hike.

In its quarterly inflation report, the Bank cut its forecasts for growth to 1.7% in 2017 and 1.6% in 2018 from 1.9% and 1.7% predicted in May. It maintained its forecast for growth of 1.8% in 2018.

Policymakers also voted to withdraw part of the mammoth economy-boosting package unleashed a year ago in the aftermath of Brexit.

The Bank confirmed it will call time on the Term Funding Scheme to offer cheap finance to banks from next February, although it said it was now expected to offer £15 billion more under the scheme - at £115 billion.

On rates, it said “some tightening of monetary policy” would be needed to cool inflation - set to peak at close to 3% in October - and by a “somewhat greater” extent than markets expect.

But the Bank stressed that any hikes would be “gradual” and “limited”.

Mr Carney warned that the assumption of a smooth transition under Brexit would be “tested” over the next two years.