Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.50 per cent on Monday, warning that inflation is on course to temporarily breach the upper limit of its target range as the lingering effects of higher global commodity prices continue to filter through the domestic economy.

"The MPC determined that maintaining the current monetary policy stance is appropriate to limit later (second round) price increases resulting from the recent increases in higher international commodity prices," the central bank said in its monetary policy press release following meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee last Wednesday and Thursday but released its decision today.

The hold was unanimous.