Need to set interest rates sufficiently restrictive for as long as necessary

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde spoke at the Jackson Hole Symposium. In her speech, she mentioned that the fight against inflation “is not yet won.” She emphasized the importance of central banks providing a nominal anchor for the economy and ensuring price stability. Lagarde stated that this entails setting interest rates at sufficiently restrictive levels for as long as necessary to achieve a timely return of inflation to the ECB’s 2% medium-term target.

Key takeaway from the speech: 

There is no pre-existing playbook for the situation we are facing today – and so our task is to draw up a new one.

Policymaking in an age of shifts and breaks requires an o+pen mind and a willingness to adjust our analytical frameworks in real-time to new developments.

At the same time, in this era of uncertainty, it is even more important that central banks provide a nominal anchor for the economy and ensure price stability in line with their respective mandates. In the current environment, this means – for the ECB – setting interest rates at sufficiently restrictive levels for as long as necessary to achieve a timely return of inflation to our 2% medium-term target.

Market reaction

EUR/USD has remained relatively stable, hovering around the 1.0800 level, following the initial reaction to Lagarde’s speech. The pair is currently trading flat for the day, consolidating weekly losses.