Policy rate path, latest five years. Cycle peak 4.75% (Oct 2000).
The verdict
Euro Area sets its policy rate at 2.50%, against inflation of 2.47% — a real rate of 0.03% after inflation. The most recent decision was a 25bp hike in Sep 2026. The bank targets 2% inflation, and prices are running above that at 2.47%; the policy rate stands 0.50 percentage points above target.
Sources: policy rate and cycle history — BIS central bank policy rates (WS_CBPOL); inflation — national statistical agencies; debt and growth — IMF World Economic Outlook. Methodology: https://www.globalfinancialinfo.info/methodology/policy-rates · Dataset: https://www.globalfinancialinfo.info/global-economy · Free to print and share for non-commercial classroom use (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
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