Most economists now expect the Bank of England to delay any rate increases from the current level of 4.0% until August.

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The delay rate for all of 2007 was still a whopping 24.2%.

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"People thinking of taking out a fixed-rate should not delay, but should move as quickly as possible, " said Melanie Bien, of mortgage brokers Savills Private Finance.

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President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats favor moving those rates back to their Clinton-era levels of 20% and 39.6%, although the perilous state of the economy seems likely to delay any rate hike until 2010 or 2011.

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There have been concerns that its growth rate may slow further, not least because of a delay in key reforms, which have hurt foreign investment.

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Now, after their announcement stirred public outcry, Anthem agreed to delay their rate hike until May 1st while the situation is reviewed by the state of California.

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Labour's amendment to delay the business rate changes until 2014 was defeated by 246 votes to 316, a majority of 70.

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