Merkel hopes euro zone inflation hits target so ECB can hike rates

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Laos' Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith hold a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, March 13, 2019. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse - Copyright ANNEGRET HILSE(Reuters)

By Reuters

Published on 18/03/2019 - 20:04•Updated 16/04/2024 - 15:12

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday she hoped inflation in the euro zone would soon reach the target set by the European Central Bank so the central bank can start raising interest rates.

"I believe or I hope - we have almost reached the 2 percent inflation rate - that the ECB can change its policy," Merkel said during a town hall meeting in the northern city of Bremen.

Her comments were in response to complaints from a participant that savers and pension funds were suffering from the record-low interest rates set by the European Central Bank.

(Reporting by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

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