The US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are set to decide on monetary policy this week against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East, which has raised inflation concerns. However, analysts expect interest rates to remain unchanged. While the Fed is expected to maintain its current stance, the ECB may adopt a more vigilant tone due to energy price volatility. Market attention will be focused on updated economic projections and press conferences from Jerome Powell and Christine Lagarde.
Fed and ECB to decide on interest rates during war but are expected to remain on hold, analysts say
Tuesday, 17 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Inflation measures how much general prices rise over time, usually reported year‑on‑year to compare a month with the same month a year earlier. Portugal’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimated January inflation at 1.9% year‑on‑year, down 0.3 percentage points from December, which affects rents, wages and everyday purchasing power for residents.
