Rising Inflation: An Ambiguous Signal for the ECB

The latest inflation figures for the euro area confirm a rise of 2.4% year-on-year in December, compared to 2.2% in November

The inflation rate in the euro area rose to 2.4% year-on-year in December, up from 2.2% in November, according to FactSet estimates. This increase was driven by higher prices for services and food products, with underlying inflation, excluding energy and food, remaining at 2.7%. The figures are closely watched ahead of the European Central Bank's (ECB) first meeting of the year on January 30.

While some investors anticipate a rapid monetary easing with inflation gradually converging towards the ECB's 2% target, others point to the sustainability of underlying inflation, which may prompt the central bank to proceed with caution. The ECB aims to balance support for the economy with controlling inflation, a delicate task in the current environment.

According to Michael Field, market strategist at Morningstar, the inflation figures may dampen the optimistic forecasts for a swift monetary easing. "The more cautious among us might be concerned by this figure, whereas a few months ago some observers were wondering whether the ECB had delayed adjusting its rates and, to put it bluntly, whether we were not entering a deflationary phase," he noted.

A closer examination of the inflation components reveals that services made the largest contribution with an increase of +3.9 percentage points in November 2024. Food products, alcohol, and tobacco followed with an increase of +2.8 points, while industrial goods excluding energy showed a more moderate rise of +0.7 points. In contrast, the energy sector had a deflationary effect (-1.9 points), partially offsetting the acceleration in other categories.

These trends indicate that inflation remains primarily driven by rising prices for services and food, two components that are often less sensitive to short-term monetary adjustments. If this dynamic continues, the expected disinflation in 2025 could be slower than anticipated, potentially limiting the ECB's maneuvering room.

Despite the inflation remaining above the 2% target, the ECB is set to gradually ease its monetary policy. During its December meeting, it revised down its inflation forecasts for 2025 to 2.1%, compared to 2.3% in its previous estimates. This adjustment confirms its medium-term price stability objective and strengthens the hypothesis of continued rate cuts in the coming months.

Mark Wall, chief economist at Deutsche Bank Research, believes that inflation may have peaked at 2.4% in December before beginning a gradual decline below the 2% threshold in the first few months of 2025. He adds that the risk of inflation being too low is currently more likely than an upward surge. "In reality, the risks for next year are more oriented towards inflation below 2% rather than above," he analyzes.

This perspective reassures investors, who anticipate a more rapid acceleration in ECB rate cuts to accompany this dynamic. The anticipation of a new interest rate reduction as early as January is gaining strength, especially since the ECB already implemented a 0.25% cut in December, bringing its deposit rate to 3%.

However, observers are divided on the extent of the expected movement this year. Some predict a gradual descent towards 1.50% by the end of 2025, while others estimate that the ECB may stop around 2% to avoid a premature inflation rebound.

The impact of this monetary policy on financial markets remains a major issue. A more flexible approach by the ECB could stimulate European stocks, which currently show a significant discount compared to American markets. According to Goldman Sachs, inflation should converge towards the 2% target by the end of the year, but price adjustments at the beginning of the year are a key variable to watch.

Moreover, if inflation slows as expected, the ECB may have sufficient room to accelerate rate cuts, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of European assets compared to their global counterparts. Conversely, any sustainability of inflationary pressures could force the institution to hesitate in its decisions, with direct consequences for corporate financing and market dynamics.

The coming months will be decisive for the orientation of monetary policy in the euro area. If inflation follows the anticipated trajectory and approaches the 2% target, the ECB could accelerate its rate cuts, thereby facilitating access to credit and stimulating investment.

Conversely, an unexpected rise in prices, driven by higher energy costs or tensions in supply chains, would complicate this strategy and force the institution to hesitate. This dilemma will be closely monitored by the markets as the euro area seeks to reconcile economic growth and price stability in an uncertain context.