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ECB raises rates for the first time since 2023

ECB raises rates for the first time since 2023

Rule Changes

An energy shock from the Iran war pushes the eurozone's central bank from cutting to hiking

Today: ECB raises rates to 2.25%

Overview

The European Central Bank cut interest rates for two years. On Thursday it reversed, raising its key deposit rate to 2.25% from 2.0%. It is the first hike since September 2023.

Borrowing costs now climb across the 20 countries that use the euro. Mortgages, business loans, and government debt all get more expensive. The trigger is an energy price surge tied to the war in Iran and disrupted Middle East shipping.

Why it matters

Higher ECB rates raise the cost of new mortgages and loans for 350 million people across the eurozone, just as energy bills are already climbing.

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Key Indicators

2.25%
ECB deposit rate
The new rate after a 0.25-point increase from 2.0%.
3.2%
Eurozone inflation (May)
Annual price growth, the highest reading since 2023.
10.9%
Energy price rise
Year-on-year jump in energy costs in May, the steepest since early 2023.
2.5%
Core inflation
Prices excluding food and energy, the highest in over a year.

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People Involved

Christine Lagarde
Christine Lagarde
Leading the ECB's turn from cutting to hiking

Organizations Involved

European Central Bank
European Central Bank
Central Bank
Raised rates for the first time in nearly three years

The ECB sets interest rates for the 20 countries that use the euro.

Timeline

September 2023 June 2026

5 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. ECB raises rates to 2.25%

    Today Policy

    The ECB lifts the deposit rate by 0.25 points to 2.25%, its first increase since September 2023. Lagarde calls future moves data-dependent.

  2. Inflation jumps to 3.2%

    Data

    Eurostat reports May inflation at 3.2%, up from 3.0%. Energy rose 10.9% and core inflation hit 2.5%, hardening the case for a hike.

  3. ECB holds but warns on war

    Policy

    The bank keeps the deposit rate at 2.0% after debating a hike. It warns that the Iran war threatens both growth and prices, and signals June is live.

  4. Lagarde signals readiness to act

    Statement

    Lagarde says the ECB is prepared to raise rates even if the energy-driven inflation surge proves short-lived.

  5. ECB's last hike before the pause

    Policy

    The ECB raises rates to a record high, the final move of its 2022-2023 tightening cycle. Rate cuts follow over the next two years.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

July 2022 - September 2023

ECB's anti-inflation hiking cycle (2022-2023)

After years near zero, the ECB raised rates ten times in a row to fight inflation that peaked above 10%. The deposit rate climbed to a record 4%. The cause then was an energy shock too, driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Then

Borrowing costs surged and eurozone growth slowed sharply through 2023.

Now

Inflation fell back toward 2% by 2024, letting the ECB begin cutting rates.

Why this matters now

It shows how fast the ECB moves when an energy shock hits prices. June 2026 may be the opening move of a similar run.

1973-1974 and 1979

1970s oil shocks and central banks

Two oil embargoes sent energy prices soaring and fed broad inflation across Western economies. Central banks hesitated, and price rises became entrenched in wages and expectations for years.

Then

Inflation stayed high while growth stalled, a mix later called stagflation.

Now

Central banks eventually raised rates sharply to break the cycle, causing deep recessions.

Why this matters now

Lagarde's fear of 'second-round effects' is the 1970s lesson: an energy spike can spread into the wider economy if a central bank waits too long.

Sources

(6)
+1
FXStreet CNBC Eurostat France 24 Euronews CNBC