
Spain's consumer prices have risen at their fastest rate since 2024, reaching 3.3% year-on-year in March, driven by surging energy costs linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, according to the Spanish national statistics agency.

ECB holds rates, warning Middle East tensions and oil risks could push inflation higher. Baseline sees 2.6% in 2026, but energy shocks could lift it to 3.5% or 4.4%, depending on how long supply disruptions persist.

The ECB President is facing backlash after disclosing she earns over €140,000 a year as a board member for the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). ECB policy bans regular staff from accepting third-party payments.

Analysts say a far-right victory in France would not be able to force through a 'maverick” candidate or rewrite economic policy, though the political manoeuvring risks undermining the ECB’s reputation.

Reports on Wednesday indicated Christine Lagarde could step down as ECB President before her mandate expires in October 2027. The ECB asserted that no decision has been made and that the President is focused on her mission, in a response to Euronews.

The ECB kept rates unchanged as inflation fell to 1.7%. Christine Lagarde said policy is “in a good place”, downplaying the undershoot as temporary, while stressing data dependence, balanced risks and the need for EU reforms to support growth.