BoE Gov. Bailey: It would be a mistake to wait for second round effects before acting, that would be too late

BoE Gov. Bailey: Monetary policy cannot prevent higher global energy prices from affecting UK economy and inflation. BOE'S BAILEY SAYS WE NOW PROJECT INFLATION WILL RISE TO A LITTLE OVER 3.5% BY END OF YEAR || SAYS INITIAL INDIRECT EFFECTS OF INFLATION ARE LIKELY TO BE LARGEST FOR FOOD PRICES BOE'S BAILEY SAYS THE LONGER THE CONFLICT IN MIDDLE EAST LASTS, THE WORSE THE IMPACT WILL BECOME BoE Gov. Bailey: The sheer volatility of energy prices makes it impossible to put probabilities on different scenarios.

The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged. While the incoming information has been broadly consistent with the Governing Council’s previous assessment of the inflation outlook, the upside risks to inflation and the downside risks to growth have intensified. The Governing Council is committed to setting monetary policy to ensure that inflation stabilises at the 2% target in the medium term. The war in the Middle East has led to a sharp increase in energy prices, pushing up inflation and weighing on economic sentiment. The implications of the war for medium-term inflation and economic activity will depend on the intensity and duration of the energy price shock and the scale of its indirect and second-round effects. The longer the war continues and the longer energy prices remain high, the stronger is the likely impact on broader inflation and the economy. ECB: Upside Risks To Inflation Have Intensified, Downside Risks To Growth Have Intensified ECB: ECB REMAINS WELL-POSITIONED TO NAVIGATE CURRENT UNCERTAINTY. ECB: APP AND PANDEMIC EMERGENCY PURCHASE PROGRAM PORTFOLIOS ARE SHRINKING AT A STEADY AND FORESEEABLE RATE AS EUROSYSTEM STOPS REINVESTING PRINCIPAL PAYMENTS FROM MATURITIES ECB holds rates at 2% as inflation rises and eurozone growth slows The ECB maintained key interest rates at their lowest level in more than two years, matching market expectations. The Frankfurt-based monetary institution held its deposit facility rate at 2% on Thursday for the third consecutive meeting. "The Governing Council today decided to keep the three key ECB interest rates unchanged," the bank said in a statement on Thursday. The ECB said incoming data had largely confirmed its previous inflation outlook, but that risks were shifting — with price pressures building on the upside and growth weakening on the downside. The bank reaffirmed its commitment to bringing inflation back to its 2% target over the medium term. "The war in the Middle East has led to a sharp increase in energy prices, pushing up inflation and weighing on economic sentiment," the statement continued. Expand article logo

Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.9 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in March 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported ...

Real gross domestic product (GDP) was up 0.2% in February, with goods-producing industries driving the growth for the second consecutive month. Goods-producing industries grew ...