Barclays' chief UK economist Jack Meaning said in a report that the Bank of England may keep interest rates steady at 4.50% in its decision due on March 20, and reiterated that future rate cuts would be gradual. He stated: "Since February, there has been nothing in the data that would materially change the views of the Monetary Policy Committee." He suggested that the Bank of England might maintain its policy guidance unchanged at its meeting in March, and could cut interest rates by 25 basis points in May.