The European Central Bank faces a close call Thursday between slowing its rapid pace of interest rate increases — much like the U.S. Federal Reserve — or pressing ahead with another jumbo hike to try to squelch inflation that has sent costs spiraling in grocery store aisles.
After six straight increases of either half- or three-quarters of a point, ECB President Christine Lagarde and the rest of the governing council could downshift to a more typical quarter-point increase, analysts say.
