In the fight against high inflation, the Bank of England is not giving up and is driving interest rates up further.
As expected on the financial markets, it raised it by half a point to 4.0 percent on Thursday.
However, the decision was internally disputed and passed by a 7-2 vote.
It was the tenth rate hike in a row.
But the currency watchdogs signaled that the interest rate peak is approaching.
At the same time, the central bank assumes that inflation has probably peaked.
However, the monetary authorities in London made more speed with their latest rate hike than the US Federal Reserve.
The Fed slowed down the previous evening (CET) and, after a series of sharp increases, only raised the key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point - to the new range of 4.50 to 4.75 percent.
In the US, inflation has been on the decline for some time.
In the UK, too, inflation is likely to ease this year, according to central bank chief Andrew Bailey.
The high price pressure had already eased in December.
The inflation rate fell from 10.7 to 10.5 percent.
In October it had reached 11.1 percent, its highest level in 41 years.
At the same time, the economy on the island has gotten into trouble: economists surveyed by Reuters predict a drop in gross domestic product of 0.9 percent for 2023.
Numerous labor disputes, high living costs and also rising interest rates, which are causing higher borrowing and mortgage costs, are currently contributing to the downturn on the island.