Britons believe 2011 will be more expensive: BoE survey

British citizens expect the inflation rate to continue to rise in 2011, according to a survey released by the Bank of England (BoE) on Thursday.

Most people expect inflation to be about 3.9 percent next year. Previously, they expected it to be around 3.6 percent.

In the longer term, most Britons expect inflation to be around 3.2 percent, up from expectations of 2.9 percent in August.

Containing inflation has been at the top of BoE's agenda for the past several months, as it continues to soar and stubbornly remains over the 2 percent threshold set by the bank.

Consumer price inflation index rose to 3.3 percent in November, up from 3.2 percent in October, according to a report by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday.

Inflation was mainly spurred by prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks, due to bread, cereals and meat.

Policy makers of the BoE have been split three ways on policy changes regarding interest rates and asset purchase programs since March 2009. While the majority has voted to retain both interest rates and the asset purchase program at its current levels, two committee members are voting otherwise.

According to the BoE survey, 20 percent of the people thought a rise in interest rates would be good for the economy, while 17 percent believed rates should 'go down' and 38 percent believed the rates should remain where they are.

The survey also indicated that fewer people were satisfied with the way the bank was functioning, with the new satisfaction balance being 22 percent of the respondents, compared with 28 percent in August.