The chances of the Bank of England kicking off the new year with an interest rate rise have grown during the past month - but most experts believe the prospect of the monetary policy committee taking action at this week's meeting remains remote.

Only one economist out of 50 polled last week by Reuters thinks the MPC will follow up last year's two rate rises, which have taken the Bank's main rate to 5 per cent, with another one when its two-day conclave ends on Thursday.