ECB working ‘at high speed’ on policies to fight too-low inflation

The ECB is preparing multiple measures against too-low inflation that could be used as soon as next month, policymakers said.

The central bank is working “at high speed” on a range of policy instruments, executive board member Yves Mersch said. When ECB president Mario Draghi commented on May 8 that officials are “comfortable” with taking action at their next interest-rate meeting, he was using the methods of his predecessor, Jean-Claude Trichet, to tell investors that measures are near, Mr Mersch said.

The ECB is trying to revive inflation to solidify an economic recovery after a recession and debt crisis that almost splintered the currency bloc.