Central Banks
Euro-Area Inflation Jump Won’t Unnerve ECB Locked in Easing Mode
- Officials may take likely pickup in prices in their stride
- Traders are now betting on a half-point rate cut next month
A surge in euro-area inflation back above 2% is unlikely to bother European Central Bank policymakers intent on loosening constriction for the region’s souring economy.
Consumer-price growth probably accelerated to 2.3% in November, the fastest level in four months, according to the median forecast of 36 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. An underlying measure that strips out volatile elements such as energy is also predicted to have quickened slightly to 2.8%.