The Bank of England has announced its decision to keep interest rates steady at 4.5%, citing ongoing economic uncertainties and inflationary pressures. This move aims to balance the need for economic growth with the goal of controlling rising prices. 

Despite the absence of a technical recession, economic uncertainty is affecting consumer and business sentiments. Factors such as fluctuating stock investments, high costs of essentials, and concerns over tariff policies have led to a significant drop in consumer sentiment indices.