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Today at 1:15 p.m. GMT, the European Central Bank (ECB) revealed its monetary policy decision, lowering its three main interest rates by 25 basis points. Marking the eighth rate reduction since June 2024, the deposit facility rate was lowered from 2.25% to 2.00%. Markets had been expecting this move because euro zone inflation dropped to 1.9% in May—below the ECB's 2% target for the first time since September 2024—mostly as a result of falling energy costs and a slowdown in services inflation.
The ECB gave as grounds for the rate reduction its revised forecast of inflation, underlying inflation dynamics, and the efficacy of monetary policy transmission. Largely as a result of cheaper energy prices and a stronger euro, the central bank lowered its inflation projections as well, now forecasting headline inflation to average 2.0% in 2025, down from 2.3% in March, and 1.6% in 2026, down from 1.9%.
Although the ECB recognized that inflation is mostly under check, it showed more care about economic growth, pointing to hazards from possible trade conflicts with the United States. With some Governing Council members advocating a possible halt in July before examining additional rate reductions later in the year, the policy approach stays data-driven.
In essence, today's ECB policy reduces interest rates to the middle of what it deems a "neutral" level, which shows faith in the trend of disinflation but concern about the growth prospects of the eurozone and outside risks.
