Bank of England to Be First Major Bank to Hike Rates, Probably in December—Economists: Reuters Poll

People walk past the Bank of England during morning rush hour, in London, Britain, on July 29, 2021. Henry Nicholls/Reuters, File Photo

LONDON—The Bank of England will be the first major central bank to raise interest rates but whether that initial increase comes as soon as next month or if it waits until early next year has divided economists polled by Reuters.

Britain’s central bank surprised markett not a majority of the economists Reuters surveyed in October—by leaving Bank Rate unchanged at a record low of 0.10 percent last week.