Brussels, 15/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - In its monthly bulletin published on Thursday, the European Central Bank (ECB) considers that the weakness of economic activity and the euro's appreciation point to a fall in medium-term inflationary tension. According to the specialists, it thus leaves the door open to a forthcoming fall in interest rates. Furthermore, it repeats that "the main scenario" for the euro zone remains a return, in 2003, to an economic growth rate that is close to its potential, although it recognises that there is still considerable uncertainty.
In its November bulletin, the ECB also welcomes the transparency of its own communication with the markets and the public. In a chapter on "transparency and the monetary policy of the ECB", the Bank considers that, in general, its decisions have been "well understood and correctly anticipated by the markets".