Today, the European Central Bank announced the results of its monetary policy review about inflation. It took place almost after twenty years. It adjusts its monetary policy at a turning point by adopting a new inflation target of 2%. So far, the ECB’s target was close to, but below 2%.
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European Central Bank inflation news
In practice, this means that the European Central will tolerate higher inflation. Thus, it will pursue its unconventional quantitative easing monetary policy for a more extended period. Under it, it buys various assets for the newly created euro. This including bonds of governments of over-indebted eurozone countries, such as Greece and Italy.
The countries of the southern wing of the euro area were particularly vigorous about it. Specially in their efforts to increase the ECB’s tolerance of inflation. The ECB’s purchase of bonds allows these countries to delay often painful reforms. They could bring their excessive public debt under control.
Real estate prices and climate stress
The European Central is also likely to include real estate prices, particularly owner-occupied housing prices, in the calculation of inflation, based on the results of the review published today. Their inclusion has the potential to increase consumer inflation by an average points of 0.1%.
Last but not least, the European Central Bank intends to launch the so-called climate stress tests during next year. It will simulate the preparedness of thousands of euro area banks. This for various critical situations related to the climate change process. Also it will assess the impact of possible adverse climate developments on the euro area economy and its financial stability.
The counterparties of the thousands of euro area banks mentioned are millions of companies worldwide, which will therefore indirectly cover the ECB’s climate stress tests.
Climate stress tests are controversial, as they blur the line between monetary policy and a specific policy objective, in this case, an environmental one. Thus, the independence of monetary policy is potentially jeopardized. It will pursue monetary goals, such as price stability, and non-monetary objectives, such as environmental protection.
