Central Bank Watchers
The Institute of International Monetary Research recognises the importance of central banks in modern economies, in particular, their role in determining monetary policy. Our Central Bank Watchers page follows and comments on the decisions of the monetary policy committees of three leading central banks - the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England
Bank of England
4th August 2022
Another increase in the Bank Rate - this time by 0.5%
16th June 2022
Fifth consecutive rise in the Bank Rate - and hints that more may follow
5th May 2022
Fourth consecutive rise in the Bank Rate
17th March 2022
Third consecutive rise in the Bank Rate
16th December 2021
Bank of England raises base rates
4th November 2021
Bank of England surprises markets by doing nothing
23rd September 2021
Monetary Policy Committee meeting: Still no date for tapering of bond purchases in spite of rising inflation
5th August 2021
Monetary Policy Committee meeting: Inflation rises further but asset purchases to continue.
24th June 2021
Monetary Policy Committee meeting: UK inflation rises above 2% but no rush to tighten monetary policy.
6th May 2021
Monetary Policy Committee meeting: A more upbeat note from the Bank of England, but inflation risk understated.
18th March 2021
Monetary Policy Committee meeting: A more upbeat note from the Bank of England, but inflation risk understated.
European Central Bank
8th September 2022
ECB increases rates by a further 0.75%
21st July 2022
First policy rate increase in 11 years
9th June 2022
ECB announces that it will increase interest rates in July
14th April 2022
ECB keeps interest rates at a record low in spite of surging inflation
10th March 2022
ECB may end all asset purchases in June
16th December 2021
ECB announces tapering of PEPP scheme
28th October 2021
ECB to continue with asset purchases as inflation hits 13-year high
9th September 2021
Governing Council meeting: ECB to slow the rate of asset purchases
22nd July 2021
Governing Council meeting: ECB announces new inflation target.
10th June 2021
Governing Council meeting: ECB to increase its asset purchases.
22nd April 2021
Governing Council meeting: ECB to increase the pace of asset purchases.
11th March 2021
Governing Council meeting: ECB to increase its asset purchases.
US Federal Reserve
27th July 2022
FOMC raises the Fed Funds Rate again by a further 0.75%
15th June 2022
FOMC increases the Fed Funds Rate again - this time by 0.75%
4th May 2022
FOMC hikes the Fed Funds Rate by a further 0.5%
16th March 2022
Fed Funds Rate increased by 0.25%
26th January 2022
Fed hints that rates may rise soon
15th December 2021
Fed to accelerate taper in 2022 as inflation rises
4th November 2021
Fed finally announces its tapering programme
23rd September 2021
Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee: Fed signals that tapering will begin shortly
29th July 2021
Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee: Inflation rise higher still, but FOMC still insists it will drop without any monetary tightening
16th June 2021
Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee: Inflation hits 5% but no hint of monetary tightening
6th May 2021
Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee: First signs of dissent from within the Fed?
17th March 2021
Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee: Will the Fed underestimate the inflationary surge?