英国央行维持利率不变 警告通胀压力可能迫使加息

英国央行货币政策委员会以6比3的多数票决定维持基准利率在3.75%不变1。尽管决定暂不调整，但央行发出警告信号，指中东地缘政治局势恶化推高全球能源价格，可能导致英国通胀升至4%1。央行行长安德鲁·贝利表示："这种波动性持续的时间越长，对通胀的影响就越大，我们越有可能需要上调英镑基准利率。"1

英国8月通胀率已从7月的2.9%上升至3.1%，高于央行2%的目标1。汽油和柴油平均价格上升近四分之一1。与此同时，央行宣布启动量化紧缩计划，计划向财政部出售1460亿英镑政府债券，每年约200亿英镑，至2034年完成1。

The Bank of England's monetary policy committee voted 6-3 to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 3.75%, signaling a cautious stance even as inflation pressures mount 1. The decision reflects growing concern about the impact of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on global energy prices, which could push UK inflation toward 4% 1.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey warned that prolonged volatility poses a significant threat to price stability, stating: "The longer this volatility persists, the greater the impact on inflation, and the more likely we are to need to raise the pound's base rate" 1. August inflation data showed a rise to 3.1%, up from 2.9% in July, as fuel prices surged nearly 25% on average 1. With the central bank's target set at 2%, policymakers face mounting pressure to eventually tighten monetary conditions 1.

Alongside the rate decision, the Bank of England announced plans to sell 146 billion pounds in government bonds to the Treasury, with sales proceeding at approximately 20 billion pounds annually through 2034 as part of its quantitative tightening program 1.