Recently, inflation in the euro zone has fallen beyond expectations, and the economies of Germany, France and other countries have stagnated, which has raised expectations for interest rate cuts in Europe again. However, in the context of the Federal Reserve's recent efforts to suppress expectations of interest rate cuts, it remains to be seen whether Europe can get rid of the trajectory of monetary policy following the United States in the past two years.

在奥地利维也纳,顾客在超市选购蔬菜。 贺灿铃摄(新华社)
欧盟统计局4月3日数据显示,欧元区3月份消费价格指数初值同比增幅为2.4%,低于预期的2.6%,当月除去食品和能源等因素的核心通胀数值也超预期回落。此后公布的2月份欧元区生产者价格指数环比下降1.0%,创下去年5月以来最大环比降幅。分析认为, With the decline in energy prices, the downward trend of inflation in the euro zone continues. In particular, the producer price index has exceeded expectations, which may be transmitted to the consumer price index, which in turn will accelerate the cooling of inflation in the euro zone.
同时,The risk of economic stall in the euro zone is increasing 。4月1日,标普全球及汉堡商业银行发布3月份欧元区制造业采购经理指数(PMI)终值为46.1,该项指标已经连续21个月处于萎缩区间,其中德法两国制造业仍处于萎缩之中。有分析指出,德国、法国这两大欧洲经济“发动机”失速正拖累欧洲经济增长。不久前,德国五家主要经济研究机构将德国今年增长预期从之前的1.3%大幅下调至0.1%。由于德国占欧元区经济体量的四分之一以上,这至少在短期内将拖累欧元区经济。
英国面临的情况也与欧元区类似。一方面,作为通胀的先行指标,英国3月的商店物价指数同比涨幅回落至2021年12月以来的最低水平,延续了物价回落走势。另一方面,由于欧盟需求不振,红海紧张局势持续,英国制造业复苏仍然受到出口疲软和供应链压力的影响。
目前,英国和欧元区的降息预期都在上升。预计英国央行最早在6月份降息的概率已经提高至50%。受此影响,英国的一些主流商业银行下调了存款与借款的利率水平,住房抵押贷款的利率也在下调。4月4日公布的欧洲央行3月货币政策例会会议纪要显示,欧洲央行的官员们看到了足够令人信服的证据,认为降息即将到来。奥地利央行行长罗伯特·霍尔兹曼还公开表示,他不反对6月时根据更广泛获得的数据做出降息的决策。
In addition to economic indicators, whether Europe can achieve interest rates will still be a key factor. 有分析认为,如果欧洲央行独立降息,将导致欧元大幅贬值,企业则必须为以美元计价的进口产品支付更多费用,“这可能加剧输入型通货膨胀”。
不仅如此,过去两年乃至更早时候,欧洲央行通常会跟随美联储,在美联储动作之后采用同向操作。因此,虽然近期欧洲央行官员频繁表态将在降息决策上保持独立性,但许多投资者仍怀疑欧洲央行能否真正独立行动。
同样是在上周,美联储多名高级官员纷纷发声,多次提到今年年初以来美国通胀出现反弹迹象,反复强调美联储在降息之前需要看到通胀方面的更多进展,明尼阿波利斯联储主席卡什卡利甚至认为美联储今年有可能不降息。如此看来, Although Europe has increased expectations of interest rate cuts, whether it can ultimately be achieved depends on the eyes of the other side of the Atlantic.

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Author: Emma

An experienced news writer, focusing on in-depth reporting and analysis in the fields of economics, military, technology, and warfare. With over 20 years of rich experience in news reporting and editing, he has set foot in various global hotspots and witnessed many major events firsthand. His works have been widely acclaimed and have won numerous awards.

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