BERLIN — German and Spanish consumer prices rose less than expected in September, tilting a finely balanced monetary policy debate at the European Central Bank towards a more measured exit from its stimulus programme. In Spain, equivalent prices rose 1.9 percent, below the expected 2 percent. Hawks at the ECB want the central bank, whose main policy target is an inflation rate of just under 2 percent, to scale back its asset purchases relatively quickly while doves favour a gradual withdrawal. It is expected to decide this autumn - most probably in October - whether to curb its stimulus from next year. Advertisement Continue reading the main story"The figures allow the ECB to exit its expansionary monetary policy slowly," said Marco Bargel of Commerzbank.

Source: New York Times September 28, 2017 13:30 UTC