The European Central Bank is likely to step up its crisis response later this year, according to economists, as a faltering recovery and a stronger euro threaten to exacerbate price declines.
Most respondents in a Bloomberg survey expect an increase in the 1.35 trillion-euro ($1.6 trillion) pandemic bond-buying program by December, with a median prediction of 350 billion euros. The Governing Council is seen keeping policy steady when it meets virtually next Thursday, but some analysts expect President Christine Lagarde to hint at the chance of more action in the future.
