Euro area inflation was weaker than initially reported in July, raising pressure on European Central Bank policy-makers to consider more stimulus in September.
Eurostat revised its July estimate for consumer price growth to 1 per cent, down from a reading of 1.1 per cent reported on July 31st.
It is the second consecutive revision to inflation data. The report adds to negative data over the past weeks that may convince officials that bold steps are needed to revive momentum in the euro area.
Concerns about a global downturn are deepening as Germany’s economy shrank in the second quarter, while growth in the 19-nation currency came in at just 0.2 per cent. The ECB is already expected to announce fresh measures to jump-start the euro zone economy when policy-makers meet on September 12th, with most economists predicting at least a cut in the deposit rate from the current minus 0.4 per cent.
ECB president Mario Draghi signalled last month that all options are on the table, including a potential restart of quantitative easing.
Governing council member Olli Rehn said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal last week that the ECB should come up with an "impactful and significant" stimulus package at its next gathering. – Bloomberg
