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Article
The European Central de bank (ECB) hebben raised de rente rate in the eurozone naar 2.
25 percent, marking the first increase in almost three het jaar.
This is a hike of a quarter de procent point, the smallest possible step.
met this rate increase, the ECB aims naar counter inflation in Europe, dat is primarily driven bij stijgen gas en oil de prijs.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz hebben largely been closed, leading naar a reduction in oil supply on the global market.
The strait hebben nu been closed voor meer than a hundred days.
Inflation Remains High bij the start of the Middle East conflict, the ECB kept de rente unchanged.
ECB President Christine Lagarde indicated in March en April dat higher inflation was expected, maar it was then decided naar leave the rates unchanged.
bij dat time, inflation in the eurozone was 1.
9 percent; it stijgen naar 3.
2 percent in May, while the ECB aims voor inflation om 2 percent.
The ECB nu projects inflation of 3 percent voor all of 2026.
de rente rate increase is intended naar make borrowing meer expensive voor companies, thus slowing down de economie slightly en curbing price stijgen.
Different Economic Situation The previous interest rate increase happened in September 2023.
dat followed a series of hikes dat began in 2022 due naar the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, dat led naar sharply stijgen energy de prijs.
However, the current economic situation is different, zeggen Lagarde.
ING economist Bert Colijn confirms this: "Back then, de economie was stronger; people hebben saved a lot during the corona crisis as vacations were canceled.
nu, de economie is not great, maar ook not bad.
This weaker economy makes the ECB meer cautious met rate hikes."
According naar Colijn, it is especially unclear what the ECB zullen do next.
The central de bank hebben indicated dat inflation forecasts remain uncertain voor nu, en the effect of the current energy price shock depends on its intensity en duration.
Lagarde emphasizes dat the ECB zullen decide on further rate hikes "per meeting".
In the Netherlands, inflation was 3.
5 percent in May.
It is still uncertain how the recent rate hike zullen affect de economie, maar it could, voor example, lead naar a stijgen savings interest rate.
However, de bank are free naar set their own de rente voor savers.
Inflation is ook stijgen in other parts of the world, such as the United States, where inflation was 4.
2 percent in May due naar higher energy de prijs.
