Central Banks

ECB’s Wunsch Says Rate Hike Likely If War Isn’t Over by June

WATCH: “If by April we have solid evidence that the shock will be lasting, and will lead to a big hike in inflation that is likely to have some degree of persistence, then we might have to do something,” Wunsch says.Source: Bloomberg

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By Mark Schroers, Jonathan Ferro, and Lisa Abramowicz

March 27, 2026 at 11:59 AM UTC

Updated on

March 27, 2026 at 12:21 PM UTC

The European Central Bank would probably have to act if the Iran war isn’t concluded by June, Governing Council member Pierre Wunsch said, urging patience in the meantime as officials assess the scale of the economic fallout.

Policymakers, while ready to tighten monetary policy, aren’t rushing to take steps that could look like an overreaction, the Belgian central-bank chief told Bloomberg Television.