Subject
Reasons behind the euro-area growth slowdown.
Significance
In its Winter 2019 interim forecasts, the European Commission downgraded its expectations for euro-area growth to 1.3% and 1.6% for 2019 and 2020, respectively, from 1.9% and 1.7% three months earlier. At its January meeting, the ECB Governing Council foreshadowed lower growth, shifting its risks assessment, saying that downside risks will dominate.
Impacts
The European Parliament elections could have a destabilising impact on growth in some countries.
Monetary policy can do nothing to cushion the impact of lower growth caused by trade conflict.
In case of recession, monetary policy stimulus will be constrained by the large size of the ECB balance sheet.