April 4th 2006
EU economic data may trigger rate hike
Headlining a recent spate of economic data was the monthly report on EU manufacturing data, which indicated Euro-area manufacturing is growing at the fastest rate in nearly five years. Echoed by other economic indicators, the data suggests that the European economic recovery is slowly feeding into labor markets. On Thursday of this week, the European Central Bank is scheduled to meet to discuss the future of EU economic policy. The consensus is that the bank will leave rates unchanged at this meeting, but will signal the likelihood of a rate hike in May. The Financial Times reports:
The strength of the indices suggested the stronger growth expected to be shown in gross domestic product figures for the first quarter of 2006 would continue into the second quarter.
Read More: EU manufacturing recovery gathers pace