Carney Facing Seven-Year Itch as BOE Holds Rates

Bank of England policy makers started their seventh year of holding borrowing costs at a record low on Thursday. Economists and investors are betting there won’t be an eighth.

Growth is on course to accelerate this quarter and wages are recovering, which may be enough to spur an interest-rate increase by year-end. With polls before the May general election showing no clear winner and consumer prices barely rising, Governor Mark Carney and his Monetary Policy Committee can keep the key rate on hold for now.