Inflation and money data boost ECB

The European Central Bank received a double boost, 28.2.01, with the news that annual inflation in the euro-zone fell unexpectedly in January and money supply growth expanded at its slowest rate since the euro's launch in 1999. Economists said both sets of data strengthened the case for the ECB to lower interest rates, but they did not expect the central bank's 18-member governing council to announce a cut as early as the meeting in Frankfurt, 1.3.03.