Jean-Claude Trichet: ECB press conference - introductory statement
Introductory statement by Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank,
and Mr Vítor Constâncio, Vice-President of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt am Main,
7 July 2011.
* * *
Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice-President and I are very pleased to welcome you to our
press conference. We will now report on the outcome of today's meeting.
Based on its regular economic and monetary analyses, the Governing Council decided to
increase the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points, after raising rates by 25 basis points
in April 2011 from historically low levels. The further adjustment of the current
accommodative monetary policy stance is warranted in the light of upside risks to price
stability. The underlying pace of monetary expansion is continuing to gradually recover, while
monetary liquidity remains ample with the potential to accommodate price pressures in the
euro area. All in all, it is essential that the recent price developments do not give rise to
broad-based inflationary pressures over the medium term. Our decision will contribute to
keeping inflation expectations in the euro area firmly anchored in line with our aim of
maintaining inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over the medium term. Such anchoring is
a prerequisite for monetary policy to contribute to economic growth in the euro area. At the
same time, interest rates across the entire maturity spectrum remain low. Thus, our monetary
policy stance remains accommodative, lending support to economic activity and job creation.
As expected, recent economic data indicate some deceleration in the pace of economic
growth in the second quarter of 2011. While the underlying momentum of economic growth in
the euro area continues to be positive, uncertainty remains elevated. We will continue to
monitor very closely all developments with respect to upside risks to price stability.
The provision of liquidity and the allotment modes for refinancing operations will be adjusted
when appropriate, taking into account the fact that all the non-standard measures taken
during the period of acute financial market tensions are, by construction, temporary in nature.
Let me now explain our assessment in greater detail, starting with the economic analysis.
In the first quarter of 2011 euro area real GDP posted a strong quarter-on-quarter increase of
0.8%, following the 0.3% increase in the last quarter of 2010. Recent statistical releases and
survey-based indicators point towards a continued expansion of economic activity in the euro
area in the second quarter of this year, albeit at a slower pace. This moderation reflects the
fact that the strong growth in the first quarter was in part due to special factors. The positive
underlying momentum of economic activity in the euro area remains in place. Euro area
exports should continue to be supported by the ongoing expansion in the world economy. At
the same time, taking into account the present level of business confidence in the euro area,
private sector domestic demand should contribute to economic growth. However, activity is
expected to continue to be dampened somewhat by the process of balance sheet adjustment
in various sectors.
In the Governing Council's assessment, the risks to this economic outlook remain broadly
balanced in an environment of elevated uncertainty. On the one hand, favourable business
confidence could provide more support to domestic economic activity in the euro area than
currently expected and higher foreign demand could also contribute more strongly to growth
than expected. On the other hand, downside risks relate to the ongoing tensions in some
segments of the financial markets that may potentially spill over to the euro area real
economy. Downside risks also relate to further increases in energy prices, protectionist
pressures and the possibility of a disorderly correction of global imbalances.
With regard to price developments, euro area annual HICP inflation was 2.7% in June 2011
according to Eurostat's flash estimate - the same rate as in May. The relatively high inflation
rates seen over the past few months largely reflect higher energy and commodity prices.
Looking ahead, inflation rates are likely to stay clearly above 2% over the coming months.
Upward pressure on inflation, mainly from energy and commodity prices, is also still
discernible in the earlier stages of the production process. It remains of paramount
importance that the rise in HICP inflation does not translate into second-round effects in price
and wage-setting behaviour and lead to broad-based inflationary pressures. Inflation
expectations must remain firmly anchored in line with the Governing Council's aim of
maintaining inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over the medium term.
Risks to the medium-term outlook for price developments remain on the upside. They relate,
in particular, to higher than assumed increases in energy prices. Furthermore, there is a risk
of increases in indirect taxes and administered prices that may be greater than currently
assumed, owing to the need for fiscal consolidation in the coming years. Finally, upside risks
may stem from stronger than expected domestic price pressures in the context of increasing
capacity utilisation in the euro area.
Turning to the the annual growth rate of M3 increased to 2.4% in May
monetary analysis,
2011, from 2.0% in April. Looking through the recent volatility in broad money growth owing
to special factors, M3 growth has continued to edge up over recent months. The annual
growth rate of loans to the private sector continued to strengthen slightly, rising to 2.7% in
May after 2.6% in April. Overall, the underlying pace of monetary expansion has continued
its gradual recovery. At the same time, monetary liquidity accumulated prior to the period of
financial market tensions continues to be ample, with the potential to accommodate price
pressures in the euro area.
Looking at M3 components, the annual growth rate of M1 moderated further in May, whereas
growth in other short-term deposits increased. These developments reflect in part the
gradual increase in the remuneration of short-term time and savings deposits over recent
months. At the same time, the steep yield curve implies a dampening impact on overall
M3 growth, as it reduces the attractiveness of monetary assets compared with more highly
remunerated longer-term instruments outside M3. However, recent information suggests that
this impact may be waning.
On the counterpart side, the annual growth of loans to non-financial corporations and to
households remained unchanged from April at 0.9% and 3.4% respectively, confirming the
pattern of developments in previous months.
The overall size of bank balance sheets has remained broadly unchanged over recent
months. It is important that banks continue to expand the provision of credit to the private
sector in an environment of increasing demand. To address this challenge, where necessary,
it is essential for banks to retain earnings, to turn to the market to strengthen further their
capital bases or to take full advantage of government support measures for recapitalisation.
In particular, banks that currently have limited access to market financing urgently need to
increase their capital and their efficiency.
To sum up, based on its regular economic and monetary analyses, the Governing Council
decided to increase the key ECB interest rates by 25 basis points, after raising rates by
25 basis points in April 2011 from historically low levels. The further adjustment of the current
accommodative monetary policy stance is warranted in the light of upside risks to price
stability. A cross-check of the outcome of the economic analysis with that of the monetary
analysis indicates that the underlying pace of monetary expansion is continuing to gradually
recover, while monetary liquidity remains ample with the potential to accommodate price
pressures in the euro area. All in all, it is essential that the recent price developments do not
give rise to broad-based inflationary pressures over the medium term. Our decision will
contribute to keeping inflation expectations in the euro area firmly anchored in line with our
aim of maintaining inflation rates below, but close to, 2% over the medium term. Such
anchoring is a prerequisite for monetary policy to contribute to economic growth in the euro
area. At the same time, interest rates across the entire maturity spectrum remain low. Thus,
our monetary policy stance remains accommodative, lending support to economic activity
and job creation. As expected, recent economic data indicate some deceleration in the pace
of economic growth in the second quarter of 2011. While the underlying momentum of
economic growth in the euro area continues to be positive, uncertainty remains elevated. We
will continue to monitor very closely all developments with respect to upside risks to price
stability.
Turning to fiscal policies, the current environment is very demanding and requires decisive
action. Euro area countries must, as a minimum, comply with their fiscal consolidation
commitments for 2011 and beyond, as foreseen under the respective excessive deficit
procedures. Adequate and more frontloaded adjustment should ensure that structural fiscal
consolidation targets are met, in line with the ECOFIN Council recommendations, and any
better than expected economic and fiscal developments should be exploited to achieve faster
deficit reduction. The announcement of fully specified consolidation measures for 2012 and
beyond is essential to convince the general public and financial market participants that the
corrective policies will be sustained and that public debt developments will be put on a
sustainable path.
At the same time, it remains essential that substantial and comprehensive structural
are urgently implemented in the euro area to strengthen competitiveness, flexibility
reforms
and longer-term growth potential. This is particularly relevant for countries with high fiscal
and external deficits or with past losses in competitiveness. We welcome the introduction of
the European Semester, including the recent submission of countries' National Reform
Programmes that incorporate commitments made under the Euro Plus Pact. We also support
the European Council conclusions calling for more ambitious and well-defined reforms that
should be frontloaded in order to foster competitiveness. In addition, the removal of labour
market rigidities would strongly support the adjustment process. Measures which enhance
wage flexibility, such as the elimination of automatic wage indexation, would help to
accomplish the necessary adjustment.
We are now at your disposal for questions.