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LONDON, U.K.: The Bank of England is keeping its base interest rate at an all-time low of 0.5 per cent.

The bank's Monetary Policy Committee said Thursday that it was extending the rate for the 18th month. One committee member who is worried about inflation currently running at 3.2 per cent has been calling for a hike to 0.75 per cent.

The low rate was intended to help pull the country out of recession, but now there are fears that the recovery will weaken in the second half of the year as the government embarks on severe cuts in spending.