LONDON – The Bank of England has increased its monetary stimulus by a bigger than anticipated 150 billion pounds ($195 billion) as it tries to boost the economy through new lockdown measures.In a statement released Thursday, the bank's rate-setting panel said its challenge is to respond to the economic and financial impact of the resurgence of the coronavirus, which has led to the reimposition of widespread restrictions across the U.K.
A four-week lockdown began Thursday in England that will keep closed all shops selling items deemed to be non-essential, such as books and clothes, as the government seeks to contain a sharp increase in virus infections.