ECB leaves rate unchanged; Bank of England cuts its

FRANKFURT, Germany -- The European Central Bank left its benchmark rate unchanged at 4% on Thursday. That decision follows the Bank of England's move to lower its own rate to 5%.

Both central banks acted as analysts predicted in response to their own, somewhat different challenges: record inflation for the ECB, growth worries for the Bank of England.

The ECB's decision was made after inflation among the 15 countries that use the euro, rose to 3.5% in March, well above the roughly 2% level of comfort the ECB aspires to. Its stance puts it apart from peers such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, which has lowered rates repeatedly.

The Bank of England cut its rates by a quarter percentage point in the face of pressures both from rising inflation and fears about growth, fueled by sagging house prices and falling consumer confidence. Inflation in Britain is also a concern. It rose to 2.5% in the year through February, above the government's 2% target.

The bank's key rate hit its recent peak of 5.75% in July and stayed there until December. The last time the rate was as low as 5% was November 2006.

Several analysts were disappointed the bank didn't cut more.

"The growing downside risks to growth stemming from markedly tighter credit conditions and elevated market interest rates meant that there was a compelling case for the Bank of England to cut interest rates further," said Howard Archer, chief European economist at Global Insight.

The ECB has a mandate to keep inflation in check. In the Frankfurt-based bank's view, concerns about the credit squeeze are no match for inflation running at 3.5% and recent wage deals in Germany — the largest economy in the 15-nation euro area — that could send it even higher.

The ECB's rate has been unchanged since last June. Back then, the ECB — which sets monetary policy for the bloc of 317 million people that accounts for some 15% of the world's global domestic product — appeared likely to keep raising rates amid steady growth.