The European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council has decided to move to the next phase of the digital euro project following the successful completion of the preparation phase that began in November 2023. This phase ensures technical readiness for the first issuance of a digital euro.
In September 2025, median consumer perceptions of past inflation remained at 3.1%, unchanged from August, while 12-month inflation expectations slightly declined to 2.7%. Longer-term expectations—three and five years ahead—remained stable at 2.5% and 2.2% respectively. Lower-income households continued to perceive slightly higher inflation than higher-income households, whereas younger consumers reported lower inflation expectations than older […]
In the four quarters to Q2 2025, euro area net saving increased to €861 billion, up from €857 billion in the previous quarter, while net non-financial investment rose to €545 billion, driven mainly by non-financial corporations (NFCs). Net lending to the rest of the world declined to €348 billion, reflecting slower growth in saving relative […]
According to the ECB’s October 2025 Bank Lending Survey, euro area banks reported a small, unexpected tightening in credit standards for loans to firms in the third quarter of 2025, while standards for housing loans remained unchanged and consumer credit tightened moderately. The tightening was mainly driven by heightened economic and geopolitical risks and greater […]
In a speech at the European University Institute in Florence, Anneli Tuominen, Member of the ECB Supervisory Board, emphasized that banks’ boards must adapt to an increasingly complex and volatile risk environment, driven by digitalisation, cyber threats, geopolitical tensions, and hybrid risks.
According to the ECB’s latest Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE), conducted between 27 August and 3 October 2025, lending conditions for euro area firms tightened marginally in the third quarter of 2025, while financing needs and availability remained broadly unchanged.
According to the European Central Bank’s monetary statistics, the annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 slowed marginally to 2.8% in September 2025, down from 2.9% in August.
At the ECB and EUI Banking Governance High-Level Seminar in Florence on October 27, 2025, Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, called for a more efficient and transparent approach to banking supervision — one that simplifies without weakening resilience.
As Europe enters the autumn and winter months, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns that respiratory infections could significantly impact vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic conditions. These groups face a higher risk of hospitalisation and death, while healthcare systems may experience added pressure […]
The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) has released a report highlighting systemic risks associated with crypto-assets, focusing on stablecoins, crypto-asset investment products, and multi-function groups. The report emphasizes the growing integration of crypto-assets with traditional finance and warns of vulnerabilities from stablecoins jointly issued by EU and non-EU entities.
