The president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagardehe warned Thursday that “Economic perspectives They have clouded by exceptional uncertainty “due to commercial tensions.
Lagarde said on Thursday at a press conference that the Governing Council unanimously decided interest rates to deposits in 25 basic points, up to 2.25 %, and that did not discuss the issue of stimulation.
He added that the ECB no longer considers that his monetary policy It is restrictive, after having dropped the price of money seven times since June last year.
The ECB is clearly concerned about the damage that The commercial war From the US president, Donald Trump can do to the economy of the euro area.
The ECB also reduced at 25 basic points interest rates of the weekly refinancing auctions, up to 2.4 %.
Also, cut the ease of creditto which it lends to banks one day, to 2.65 %, with effects from April 23, 2025.
The ease of deposit, which is the interest rate that banks receive when they deposit money in the ECB to one day, is the interest rate through which the ECB now now guides its monetary policy because it expects you to interest rates of the money market evolve around it.
The ECB believes that it is “probable that the adverse and volatile response of markets to commercial tensions will lead to a hardening of financing conditions”, that is, they rise interest rates In financial markets.
These factors could take additionally Economic perspectives of the euro zone, according to the ECB.
The commercial war weakens growth
Lagarde stressed that the RECRUDING OF COMMERCIAL TENSIONS Create downward risks for economic growth because exports in the euro zone can be reduced.
Therefore, it is very important, according to Lagarde, to promote productivity and the competitiveness of the economy of the countries that share the euro.
“The economy of The euro area It has been developing some resistance against global impacts, but the prospects for growth have deteriorated due to the increase in commercial tensions, “according to Lagarde.
“Economic perspectives have clouded by Exceptional uncertainty. The exporters of the euro zone face new barriers to trade, although their reach is not clear, “Lagarde apostilled at a press conference.
“The disrupts a international tradetensions in financial markets and geopolitical uncertainty take business investment, “at the same time that consumers can reduce spending because they have become more cautious about the future, said the president of the ECB.
Inflation refers
“The disinflation process continues to progress. Inflation He has continued to evolve as expected by the ECB experts, and both general and underlying inflation were reduced in March, “observes the monetary entity.
“Inflation The services have also been markedly moderated in recent months, “adds the European monetary entity.
The ECB expects that Inflationwhich in March was 2.2 %, will stabilize around the objective of 2 % in the medium term in a sustained way.
The ECB will make decisions about the types according to economic data.
In the current context of Exceptional uncertaintythe ECB will make decisions about interest rates according to data at each meeting, without compromising in advance with any concrete path of types. EFE