ECB may attain impartial fee by summer season, Villeroy says

PARIS (Reuters) – The European Central Financial institution’s rates of interest ought to attain the purpose the place they’re not a drag on progress by this summer season if inflation is tamed by then, ECB policymaker Francois Villeroy mentioned in a speech on Wednesday.

Inflation within the 20-nation euro zone eased over the course of final 12 months in the direction of the ECB’s 2% goal, however ticked greater to 2.4% in December from 2.2% in November, which Villeroy mentioned was largely anticipated.

“If the pullback in inflation is confirmed within the coming quarters as we anticipate, frequent sense would have us heading in the direction of the impartial fee with out slowing the tempo by summer season,” Villeroy mentioned in a New 12 months’s deal with on the French central financial institution, which he heads.

The ECB estimates the so-called impartial fee is round 2%.