Eurozone slowdown could delay easing by ECB

London

A SLOWDOWN in eurozone business growth at the start of the second half of 2017, alongside declining inflation pressures in a key business survey, could put paid to expectations of a stimulus clawback by the European Central Bank (ECB) later this year.

Years of ultra-easy policy have bolstered still-solid growth, but inflation is nowhere near the ECB's 2 per cent target ceiling and this month's even shallower price rises will provide disappointing reading for policymakers.