Central Banks

ECB Has ‘Marginal’ Distance to Cover With Rate Hikes, Villeroy Says

  • Bank of France survey shows easing price pressure in industry
  • Central bank sees slightly positive growth in second quarter

Francois Villeroy de Galhau

Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg
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The European Central Bank has only a “marginal” distance left to cover in raising interest rates to combat inflation, according to Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau, who sounded a more cautious tone on future monetary tightening than some of his colleagues.

Inflation in France — where Villeroy heads the central bank — is moving past its peak and may ease to about 4% by year-end before meeting the ECB’s 2% goal as soon as end-2024, he told the Ebra group of regional French newspapers in an interview published Wednesday.