Draghi: ECB will still undershoot inflation goal in 2020

Mario Draghi stopped short of declaring that the European Central Bank (ECB) will meet its inflation goal in 2020, signaling that the euro-area economy is not yet strong enough to warrant weaning off monetary stimulus.

The ECB president unveiled updated economic projections that showed stronger growth over the next three years but only slowly improving consumer-price gains.

Inflation will average 1.7% in 2020, below the goal of just under 2%.

Policy makers earlier kept interest rates and their quantitative-easing settings unchanged.

The Governing Council's discussion "reflected the increasing confidence we have in the convergence of inflation towards a self-sustained path in the medium term," Draghi said in a press conference on Thursday, adding that an "ample degree" of stimulus is still needed.

"Domestic price pressures remain muted overall and have yet to show convincing signs of a sustained upward trend," he said. 

The euro fluctuated after the decision and Draghi's remarks, though it was little changed at $1.1817 at 3:24 pm Frankfurt time.

Rather than hitting a single number, it is more important that inflation converges to the target in a self-sustained and durable manner, he said.

Improving conditions in the labour market should increase pressure on nominal wages, which are a key driver of underlying price pressures.

The ECB chief's caution comes amid a spate of central-bank decisions in the past 24 hours that signalled tighter global monetary policies ahead.

The US Federal Reserve announced its third interest-rate increase of the year, China unexpectedly edged borrowing costs higher, and Norway's central bank signalled it may start raising interest rates earlier than previously.

The Swiss National Bank predicted inflation will exceed its mandate in late 2020, though said it will not rush to raise rates.

The Bank of England, which increased rates last month for the first time in a decade, kept policy on hold in London.

Policy/inflation link

Bolstered by ECB stimulus and a global economic recovery, the euro area has recorded 18 straight quarters of expansion since coming out of a double-dip recession, and sentiment surveys point to accelerating momentum.

Upside growth surprises are possible, while downside risks are mostly related global factors, Draghi said.

The stellar performance has encouraged some policy makers to urge resolute action, with Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann and his Dutch counterpart Klaas Knot among those calling for a firm end-date for bond purchases.

The Governing Council has also raised the issue of linking the whole policy stance – rather than just asset purchases – to inflation, to make it easier to stop bond-buying even if consumer-price growth is not fully on target.

Draghi said neither the structure of the bond-buying programme nor a change in guidance were discussed on Thursday, but he acknowledged that the outlook for interest rates would gain importance in the coming months.

The Governing Council will halve asset purchases to €30 billion ($35 billion) a month starting in January and continue for at least nine months until the end of September.

It promised to increase or extend buying if the outlook for inflation worsens and expects to keep interest rates unchanged until well past the end of net asset purchases.

It will also reinvest the proceeds from maturing debt holdings for as long as necessary.