The European Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 2.5% on Thursday as inflation nears 2% and growth remains weak. View on euronews

A 25 basis point cut to the ECB deposit facility rate is widely anticipated, marking the seventh cut in the current cycle. Click to read.

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday lowered its three key interest rates by 25 basis points, meeting market forecasts. This marked the fifth consecutive rate cut since the ECB initiated its easing cycle last June. The key deposit rate now stands at 2.50%, its lowest level since early 2023.

Euro zone inflation dipped a bit less than expected last month but its most closely watched component also dropped, sealing the case for another ECB interest rate cut on Thursday and solidifying bets for further policy easing in the coming months.

Consumer prices in the eurozone were 2.4% higher in February than a year earlier, a slower rate of inflation than recorded in January, reassuring news for central bank policymakers as they prepare to meet later this week.

Inflation in Europe eased to 2.4% in February, supporting the case for another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank but leaving open how far the central bank will go in lowering borrowing

Inflation in Europe eased to an annual 2.4% in February, supporting the case for another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank — but leaving open how far the central bank will go in lowering borrowing costs for an economy that’s still struggling to show robust growth.

Euro zone inflation eased to 2.4% in February according to statistic agency Eurostat. This was lower than January's 2.5% reading, but higher than expected by economists polled by Reuters. So-called core inflation,