The European Central Bank has raised interest rates for the first time in nearly three years to counter inflation linked to the Iran war.
Policymakers in Frankfurt lifted the benchmark deposit rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.25%, ending a long pause after seven consecutive holds at 2.0%.
The last rate hike in the eurozone came in September 2023. Higher rates typically make borrowing more expensive for households and businesses, helping to curb demand and ease price pressures, while offering improved returns for savers.
At the same time, tighter policy risks are weighing further on an already weak economy. The ECB has been facing a delicate balance between containing inflation and avoiding a deeper economic slowdown.
What did the ECB say about the rate rise?
Announcing the increase, the ECB said: “the war in the Middle East is generating inflation pressures.”
“The outlook remains uncertain, with upside risks for inflation and downside risks for economic growth,” it said.
“The full implications of the war for medium-term inflation and growth will depend on the intensity and duration of the energy price shock, as well as the scale of its indirect” effects, it added.
The bank also raised its inflation outlook for this year while trimming growth expectations.
Policymakers revised their forecast to 3% inflation, up from 2.6% in March, and lowered their eurozone growth projection to 0.8% from 0.9%.
Edited by: Sean Sinico
About The Author
