ECB president Christine Lagarde said there had not been any discussion among rate-setters of either rate rises or cuts. Photograph: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP via Getty ImagesThe European Central Bank (ECB) left interest rates unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, amid ongoing global economic uncertainty. The ECB’s governing council kept its main interest rate at 2 per cent once more, the bank said in a statement. ECB president Christine Lagarde said there had not been any discussion among rate-setters of either rate rises or cuts. As recently as last June, the ECB expected growth this year to come in at just 0.9 per cent.

Source: The Irish Times December 18, 2025 14:06 UTC