ECB policymakers open door to more rate hikes on energy risk
TLT•Other central bankers back higher-rate expectations
Ülo Kaasik, Estonia's central bank governor, said such expectations were "understandable" given the latest increase in fuel prices and the risk that food would also become more expensive.
"Recent developments in energy markets, for example, indicate the possibility that the price increase for gas and fuels will be much larger and last longer than expected in the forecast," he said in a blog post.
Slovenia's central bank governor Primož Dolenc also warned in a blog post about "rising energy and electricity costs in the autumn and winter months".
The ECB on Thursday slightly increased its projections for growth and inflation but these did not capture the latest energy price moves.
Nagel says mildly restrictive stance might be needed
Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said the ECB might need to raise rates to a level that mildly curbs the economy.
"I will not exclude that we have to go into the mild restrictive territory, but as I said, it's very much dependent on how the energy prices evolve, how the price picture is evolving over the course of maybe the next month," he told CNBC in an interview.
The euro zone central bank increased its key rate from 2.25% to 2.50%, bringing it to the upper end of its estimated neutral range, which neither stimulates nor slows down the economy.
Money markets have started pricing in at least another three ECB rate hikes over the next year.
Policymakers warn energy risk could justify more hikes
Two European Central Bank policymakers opened the door on Friday to further interest rate increases if a war-fuelled rise in energy prices continues and pushes up other prices in the euro zone.
