Europe’s Central Bank to Speed up End to Economic Stimulus

Europe’s Central Bank to Speed up End to Economic Stimulus
President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde addresses a news conference following the meeting of the Governing Council's monetary in Frankfurt, Germany, on March 10, 2022. Daniel Roland/Pool via Reuters
The Associated Press
Updated:

The European Central Bank (ECB) said Thursday that it will make an early exit from its economic stimulus efforts as it combats record inflation that threatens to go ever higher as energy prices soar during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The move was a tough choice because the invasion also has exposed Europe to a potential hit to economic growth. But the ECB chose higher inflation as the bigger threat, surprising many analysts who had expected no change in the bank’s roadmap for the coming months.