Euro zone inflation eased to 2.4% in February according to statistic agency Eurostat. This was lower than January's 2.5% reading, but higher than expected by economists polled by Reuters. So-called core inflation,

For four years, the ECB has been trying to slow the economy down, raising its key deposit rate to a record 4 percent to choke off inflation, before gradually lifting its foot off the brake since June. Next week’s expected rate cut will be the sixth in the current sequence, and will bring the deposit rate down to 2.5 percent.

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Consumer prices in the eurozone were 2.4% higher in February than a year earlier, a slower rate of inflation than recorded in January, reassuring policymakers ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

DAX eyes ECB rate decision as inflation concerns persist. Market sentiment shifts with US tariff risks and Fed rate cut expectations.

It is widely expected that the ECB will again reduce borrowing costs when it meets next as inflation remains under control and the Eurozone economy slows. Wage growth has also cooled in recent months, further supporting the case for more rate cuts.

Inflation in Europe eased to 2.4% in February, supporting the case for another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank but leaving open how far the central bank will go in lowering borrowing

Eurozone inflation eased to 2.4% in February but remained above forecasts, complicating the ECB’s rate-cut plans. Monthly price pressures, meanwhile, hit a 10-month high. View on euronews

Euro zone inflation dipped a bit less than expected last month but its most closely watched component also dropped, sealing the case for another ECB interest rate cut on Thursday and solidifying bets for further policy easing in the coming months.

Euro zone inflation eased to 2.4% in February but came in slightly above analyst expectations, according to flash data from statistics agency Eurostat. Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected inflation to dip to 2.