in the fourth quarter of 2017, following similar growth in the previous quarter. this resulted in an average annual growth rate of 2. 4 % in 2017 – the highest since 2007. the latest economic indicators suggest some moderation in the pace of growth since the start of the year. this moderation may in part reflect a pull - back from the high pace of growth observed at the end of last year, while temporary factors may also be at work. overall, however, growth is expected to remain solid and broad - based. our monetary policy measures, which have facilitated the deleveraging process, should continue to underpin domestic demand. private consumption is supported by ongoing employment gains, which, in turn, partly reflect past labour market reforms, and by growing household wealth. business investment continues to strengthen on the back of very favourable financing conditions, rising corporate profitability and solid demand. housing investment continues to improve. in addition, the broad - based global expansion is providing impetus to euro area exports. the risks surrounding the euro area growth outlook remain broadly balanced. however, risks related to global factors, including the threat of increased protectionism, have become more prominent. 1 / 2 bis central bankers'speeches euro area annual hicp inflation increased to 1. 3 % in march 2018, from 1. 1 % in february. this reflected mainly higher food price inflation. on the basis of current futures prices for oil, annual rates of headline inflation are likely to hover around 1. 5 % for the remainder of the year. measures of underlying inflation remain subdued overall. looking ahead, they are expected to rise gradually over the medium term, supported by our monetary policy measures, the continuing economic expansion, the corresponding absorption of economic slack and rising wage growth. turning to the monetary analysis, broad money ( m3 ) continues to expand at a robust pace, with an annual growth rate of 4. 2 % in february 2018, slightly below the narrow range observed since mid - 2015. m3 growth continues to reflect the impact of the ecb ’ s monetary policy measures and the low opportunity cost of holding the most liquid deposits. accordingly, the narrow monetary aggregate m1 remained the main contributor to broad money growth, continuing to expand at a solid annual rate. the recovery in the growth of loans to the private sector observed since the beginning of 2014 is proceeding. the annual growth rate of loans to non - financial corporations stood at 3. 1 % in february 2018, after 3. 4 % in january and 3. 1 % in

december 2017, while the annual growth rate of loans to households remained unchanged at 2. 9 %. the euro area bank lending survey for the first quarter of 2018 indicates that loan growth continues to be supported by increasing demand across all loan categories and a further easing in overall bank lending conditions for loans to enterprises and loans for house purchase. the pass - through of the monetary policy measures put in place since june 2014 continues to significantly support borrowing conditions for firms and households, access to financing ‒ notably for small and medium - sized enterprises ‒ and credit flows across the euro area. to sum up, a cross - check of the outcome of the economic analysis with the signals coming from the monetary analysis confirmed the need for an ample degree of monetary accommodation to secure a sustained return of inflation rates towards levels that are below, but close to, 2 % over the medium term. in order to reap the full benefits from our monetary policy measures, other policy areas must contribute decisively to raising the longer - term growth potential and reducing vulnerabilities. the implementation of structural reforms in euro area countries needs to be substantially stepped up to increase resilience, reduce structural unemployment and boost euro area productivity and growth potential. against the background of overall limited implementation of the 2017 countryspecific recommendations, greater reform effort is necessary in euro area countries. regarding fiscal policies, the ongoing broad - based expansion calls for rebuilding fiscal buffers. this is particularly important in countries where government debt remains high. all countries would benefit from intensifying efforts towards achieving a more growth - friendly composition of public finances. a full, transparent and consistent implementation of the stability and growth pact and of the macroeconomic imbalance procedure over time and across countries remains essential to increase the resilience of the euro area economy. improving the functioning of economic and monetary union remains a priority. the governing council urges specific and decisive steps to complete the banking union and the capital markets union. we are now at your disposal for questions. 2 / 2 bis central bankers'speeches