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ECB set to hold rates through 2026 on steady outlook

The European Central Bank will hold interest rates at least until the end of 2026, according to a majority of economists polled by Reuters, who also expected the euro zone economy to grow steadily with contained inflation despite a highly-uncertain global outlook.

Business • 19 Nov

A sign in front of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt

Europe's banks face 'unprecedentedly high' risk of shocks

Euro zone banks must prepare for unprecedented shocks causing severe disruptions with far-reaching consequences for financial systems, the European Central Bank said today as it outlined its supervisory priorities for the next three years.

Business • 18 Nov

ECB board revamp exposes diversity failings

Euro zone officials have embarked on a two-year process to replace most of the European Central Bank's executive board, including President Christine Lagarde, raising questions along the way about how well the institution represents the people it serves.

Business • 17 Nov

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde speaks during a press conference on Eurozone monetary policy in Florence

ECB's Lagarde replaces Fed's Powell on 2 BIS committees

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is to take over from Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell as head of two of the Bank for International Settlements' key economic groups, the central bank umbrella body said today.

Business • 12 Nov

Chinese goods dumping started before tariffs - ECB study

Weak domestic demand rather than US tariffs is the main reason China is dumping surplus product on European markets at rock-bottom prices at the expense of domestic producers, a European Central Bank study argued today.

Business • 11 Nov

Euro zone economy grows at fastest pace in over two years

The euro zone economy expanded at its fastest rate since May 2023 in October, breaking out of the subdued growth pattern seen earlier this year as service sector activity accelerated and demand conditions improved.

Business • 05 Nov

ECB keeps rates unchanged as economy holds up for now

The European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged at 2% for the third meeting in a row today and offered no hints about future moves as it enjoys a rare period of low inflation and steady growth, even in the face of trade turbulence.

Business • 30 Oct

Euro zone banks tighten credit access on trade risks

Euro zone banks unexpectedly tightened access to corporate credit in the third quarter, with German lenders leading the way on fears over the economic outlook and tariffs, the European Central Bank said based on a quarterly survey.

Business • 28 Oct

Euro coins sit next to each other, and a fragment of a 100 euro banknote sits in the background

Euro zone consumers maintain benign inflation view - ECB

Euro zone consumers have lowered their inflation expectations for the next year and kept unchanged their view further ahead, indicating that price growth is no longer a major worry, the European Central Bank's Consumer Expectations Survey showed.

Business • 28 Oct

After eight rate cuts since mid-2024, the ECB is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at 2% for a third consecutive meeting

Fed and ECB rate decisions to be announced this week

The US Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again this week.

Business • 28 Oct

Euro zone business activity growth accelerates - PMI

Euro zone business activity unexpectedly grew at a faster pace in October as companies received new orders at the quickest rate in two and a half years, suggesting the bloc's economy gained momentum at the start of the final quarter, a survey showed today.

Business • 24 Oct

ECB to pause rates at least until 2027 - poll

The European Central Bank has finished cutting interest rates as inflation holds around its 2% target and the economy marches steadily on, according to a growing majority of economists in a Reuters poll.

Business • 22 Oct

ECB's Lane flags dollar risk for banks amid tariff woes

Euro zone banks may come under pressure if US dollar funding - the lifeblood of financial markets - were to dry up, the European Central Bank's chief economist Philip Lane said today amid concern over US President Donald Trump's policies.

Business • 21 Oct

ECB eyes keeping rates steady for now - minutes

The European Central Bank believes current interest rate levels are robust enough in "managing shocks", minutes of its September meeting showed today, fuelling expectations of no further cuts for now.

Business • 09 Oct

European interest rates are at an 'appropriate level', the European Central Bank's Governing Council member Jose Luis Escriva said today

ECB's Escriva says interest rates at 'appropriate' level

European interest rates are at an "appropriate level" and there is no need for further guidance from the European Central Bank, its Governing Council member Jose Luis Escriva told an event in Madrid today.

Business • 08 Oct

ECB rate decisions sensitive to inflation risk shifts

The European Central Bank will be attentive to any shift in the risk profile of euro zone inflation and the case for further policy easing would be strengthened if the risk of undershooting the target increased, ECB chief economist Philip Lane said.

Business • 06 Oct

ECB picks AI startup to prevent digital euro fraud

The European Central Bank said it had picked a Portuguese startup focussed on artificial intelligence to help prevent fraud in its planned digital euro currency.

Business • 03 Oct

Euro zone inflation picks up to 2.2% in September

Euro zone inflation accelerated last month on higher services prices and a smaller decline in energy costs, likely reinforcing bets on the ECB keeping interest rates on hold for some time.

Business • 01 Oct

Euro zone consumers lift inflation expectations - ECB

Euro zone consumers raised some of their inflation expectations in August and saw higher income growth in the year ahead, the European Central Bank's monthly Consumer Expectations Survey showed today.

Business • 26 Sep

Euro zone lending growth ticks up in August

Growth in bank lending across the euro zone continued to accelerate in August, hitting multi-year highs as lower interest rates helped the flow of credit, European Central Bank data showed today.

Business • 25 Sep

Inflation in the euro zone reached 2% in August, the EU's statistics agency said, revising its previous 2.1% figure published earlier this month

Euro zone inflation in August revised down to 2%

Euro zone inflation remained stable in August, revised official data showed today, as a bigger drop in energy costs led to the lower estimate.

Business • 17 Sep

A lady with white hair at a podium with the European Union flag behind her

ECB holds rates unchanged, but no clues about next move

The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged today as expected but offered no clues about its next move, even as investors continue to bet that more support will be needed as inflation dips below target next year.

Business • 11 Sep

Inflation in the euro zone rose to 2.1% last month from 2% in July, new figures show today

Euro zone inflation edges up to 2.1% in August

Euro zone inflation edged up slightly in August, staying close to the European Central Bank's 2% target and likely firming up market bets that interest rates will remain unchanged in the near term.

Business • 02 Sep

Inflation cools in France and Italy, steady in Spain

Inflation slowed in France and Italy and held steady in Spain in August, official data showed today, as the European Central Bank weighs its next move on interest rates next month.

Business • 29 Aug

Euro zone business activity accelerates in August - PMI

Euro zone businesses saw new orders increase for the first time since May 2024 in August, helping overall activity expand at the fastest pace in 15 months despite persistent weakness in exports, a survey said today.

Business • 21 Aug