New Delhi, Nov. 8 -- The Bank of England appeared deeply divided Thursday as it kept its main interest rate unchanged at 4%, with a wafer-thin majority of policymakers needing more information on how swiftly inflation will fall back towards their target before backing another cut in borrowing costs.

The decision by the nine-member rate-setting body to maintain Bank Rate - a benchmark for mortgages as well as consumer and business loans - was widely anticipated, though some economists thought there was a chance that borrowing rates would be reduced by a further quarter of a percentage point to 3.75%.

Like the U.S. Federal Reserve, which last week cut interest rates for the second time this year, the vote among on the bank's Monetary Poli...