Rock-bottom ECB rates ‘here to stay’ on low inflation

The ECB may only hike rock-bottom interest rates as late as mid-2019, Irish economists have predicted. Eurozone inflation figures published yesterday showed inflation across the bloc remains low.

The central bank has a target below which to keep inflation, but close to an annual 2% over the medium term.

But, last month, Mr Draghi pulled in the amount spent on supports, when the ECB disappointed markets, by failing to increase the fire power of the monthly bond-buying programmes.