News Release
Target Two Point Zero - The Bank of England/Times Interest Rate Challenge
30 November 2006
Regional Heat Results from Stirling on 30 November 2006
The seventh annual Target Two Point Zero – the Bank of England/Times Interest Rate Challenge - is underway, attracting a record number of entries (more than 280 schools and colleges) drawn from across the United Kingdom.
Each team of four students competes in one of the 42 regional heats. Like the Bank of England’s own Monetary Policy Committee, these 16 - 18 year-olds must consider the factors affecting the UK’s economic and inflation outlook. Then they have to decide what interest rate should be set to meet the Government’s 2.0% inflation target. After outlining the main economic issues and giving their decision, the team is then questioned by a judging panel. The winning team from each regional heat goes on to one of the six area finals to be held in February 2007, with the national final to be held on 23 March at the Bank of England in London.
The team from Hutchesons’ Grammar School in Glasgow won the regional heat held at Stirling Management Centre on 30 November. They recommended an interest rate of 5.25% compared with the Bank of England’s official rate of 5.0%, set by the Monetary Policy Committee on 9 November.
The team from George Watson’s College in Edinburgh were runners-up, recommending an interest rate of 5.0%.
The other teams in the heat were Fettes College in Edinburgh, Glenalmond College in Perth, St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow and Stewart’s Melville College in Edinburgh.
Note to Editors
If you would like to take a photograph of the team(s) from your area or would like to interview team members, please call the Bank of England Press Office on 020 7601 4411 for contact details.
