Economics

ECB’s Lagarde Expects Disinflation as Crisis Transforms Economy

  • President says supply chains will shrink, automation will rise
  • Lagarde is “determined” to make ECB address climate change

Christine Lagarde is displayed on a laptop computer, beyond a 20 Euro banknote, during a live stream video of the central bank's virtual rate decision news conference June 4.

Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

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European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said the euro zone faces about two years of downward pressure on prices, but could see a turnaround after that because the coronavirus crisis will accelerate the transformation of the economy.

The ECB head said in a webinar on Saturday that the pandemic will spur the preexisting shift toward greater digitization and automation, shorter supply chains, and greener industries.