Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

ECB’s Lane Confident Inflation Near Peak as More Hikes to Come

Published 2022-12-06, 03:08 a/m
Updated 2022-12-06, 03:08 a/m
© Bloomberg. Philip Lane, chief economist at the European Central Bank (ECB), delivers a speech during a conference on monetary policy at Denmark's central bank, also know as Danmarks Nationalbank, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Some analysts have argued that Denmark's economy, which has been running at close to full employment since the pandemic, would have benefited from higher rates sooner.

© Bloomberg. Philip Lane, chief economist at the European Central Bank (ECB), delivers a speech during a conference on monetary policy at Denmark's central bank, also know as Danmarks Nationalbank, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Some analysts have argued that Denmark's economy, which has been running at close to full employment since the pandemic, would have benefited from higher rates sooner.

(Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank Chief Economist Philip Lane said consumer-price growth is probably near its zenith, while acknowledging that borrowing costs will be raised again.

“It’s probably too early to make that judgment” whether inflation is cresting, “but I would be reasonably confident in saying that it is likely we are close to peak inflation,” Lane told Milano Finanza newspaper in a interview published Tuesday. “But whether this already is the peak or whether it will arrive at the start of 2023, is still uncertain.”

A week and a half before the ECB next sets interest rates, indications from officials are that they may slow their recent pace of hikes. Ireland’s Gabriel Makhlouf said Monday that a half-point move -- after back-to-back increases of 75 basis points -- is the most likely outcome. Talk of moderation follows the first slowdown in euro-zone inflation in 1 1/2 years.

“We do expect that more rate increases will be necessary, but a lot has been done already,” Lane said, according to a transcript on the ECB website. “The starting point is different now. We’ve already hiked rates by 200 basis points,” he said. “We should take into account the scale of what we have already done.”

On consumer prices, the ECB chief economist said that he couldn’t “rule out some extra inflation early next year. Once we are past the initial months of 2023, later on in 2023 -- in the spring or summer -- we should see a sizeable drop in the inflation rate. That said, the journey of inflation from the current very high levels back to 2% will take time.”

Asked whether the inflation rate might drop to 6%-7% in 2023, he said that “the initial downshift from the current high rates will be to around that level” with a further reduction to follow.

Still, “we do think there will be a second round of inflation,” Lane said, citing bigger-than-usual pay increases over the next three years. “That is why it will take some time to return to our 2% target. So the second round effects will drive inflation next year and in 2024.”

©2022 Bloomberg L.P.

© Bloomberg. Philip Lane, chief economist at the European Central Bank (ECB), delivers a speech during a conference on monetary policy at Denmark's central bank, also know as Danmarks Nationalbank, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. Some analysts have argued that Denmark's economy, which has been running at close to full employment since the pandemic, would have benefited from higher rates sooner.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.