European Central Bank
Higher defence spending lifts euro area GDP and real interest rates
European Central Bank Executive Board member Philip R. Lane presented analysis on August 17, 2026, showing that rising defence spending across the euro area will moderately boost economic growth and inflation while expanding public debt and long-term interest rates.
Focus
Euro area holds 440 billion euros in US tech equities
Historical technological booms indicate a stock market correction for AI valuations is likely.
Chinese industrial subsidies boost strategic sector exports
A new European Central Bank blog analysis reveals that government support for Chinese manufacturing firms reached 2.0 percent of costs in 2024, driving exports in strategic industries like semiconductors, solar energy and automobiles.
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Short video boosts digital euro adoption by 12 percentage points
A European Central Bank study reveals that watching a short explanatory video increases consumer willingness to adopt a digital euro by 12 percentage points.
Cash acceptance in euro area rises to 92 percent of firms
A new survey by the European Central Bank shows that 92 percent of physical-location businesses in the euro area accepted cash in 2026, up from 90 percent in 2024.
Eurosystem excess liquidity drops to 2.5 trillion euros
An ECB report shows excess liquidity declined from 3.4 trillion to 2.5 trillion euros over 2024 and 2025 as key rates fell by 200 basis points.
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Labour market reforms boost private investment by 5 percent
Major labour and product market reforms boost real private investment by 5 percent and 3 percent respectively over six years, according to ECB research.
Europa Open Air concert and banknote survey set for 20 August
The European Central Bank and Hessischer Rundfunk will host the free Europa Open Air concert at Weseler Werft in Frankfurt on 20 August 2026.
EU monetary financing ban protects price stability, ECB paper finds
The EU prohibition of monetary financing remains stricter than pre-EMU rules or US and UK frameworks, an ECB paper finds.
Rate hikes trigger year-long decline in firm hiring expectations
A 25 basis point contractionary monetary policy surprise reduces the net balance of firm hiring intentions by 13 percentage points immediately, according to a European Central Bank working paper based on survey data from 9,000 German firms.
Digital euro to offer cash-like privacy offline, Lagarde says
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde assured the European Parliament that the digital euro will complement physical cash rather than replace it.
Renewables power 47 percent of EU electricity as demand lags
An ECB analysis shows that renewables generated a record 47 percent of EU electricity in 2024.