Gariguette strawberries on sale at Annecy Saturday market, France.
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Euro zone inflation got here in at 5.5% in June, in keeping with preliminary information, decrease than analyst expectations, however core inflation, which excludes vitality and meals, stays stubbornly excessive and rose to five.4%.
The figures will probably be carefully watched by the European Central Financial institution, which hiked rates of interest to their highest stage in 22 years on June 15. The benchmark price moved 25 foundation factors greater to three.5%, shifting out of step with the U.S. Federal Reserve, which paused hikes at its final assembly.
The European Central Financial institution additionally revised its headline and core inflation expectations for the following couple of years throughout its rate of interest assembly. It now anticipates inflation will attain a mean 5.4% this 12 months, 3% in 2024 and a pair of.2% in 2025.
European Central Financial institution President Christine Lagarde mentioned Tuesday, earlier than the most recent figures, that inflation was nonetheless too excessive and that it is too early to declare victory over shopper value rises.
Talking on the Sintra central banking occasion in Portugal, she mentioned: “Inflation within the euro space is simply too excessive and is ready to stay so for too lengthy. However the nature of the inflation problem within the euro space is altering.”
This can be a breaking information story, please examine again later for extra.