... up a quarter of a point to 5.75%, leaving them at a six year high. An extra £16 a month on a £100,000 mortgage, when the lenders catch up. But more importantly, an even greater shock for those estimated two million homeowners coming off old fixed-rates in the next six months.

Few were surprised by the announcement... but - in the spirit of total transparency and trust which distinguishes the Rat and Mouse from another UK house price blog - I'm prepared to admit my money was on the outside possibility of the MPC waiting-and-seeing until August.

Technorati Tags: property, real estate