July 18, 2022: -Inflation will hit 7.6% in the eurozone and 8.3% in Europe this year, according to revised forecasts, as the invasion of Ukraine dampens the economies in the region.
On Thursday, the European Commission’s executive arm of the EU’s forecasts come as markets monitor inflation prints. In the U.S., the consumer price index increased 9.1% in June, according to numbers released Wednesday, coming in much higher than economists had expected.
Concerns over record-high price increases are generally in Europe, where the recent reading showed that inflation reached a record rate of 8.6% in the eurozone in June.
The situation is piling pressure on national governments, which are trying to lessen the impact of higher prices on households, and the European Central Bank, which should meet in the coming week.
In May, the European Commission expected inflation in the euro area to hit 6.1% in 2022 before it decreased to 2.7% in 2023. Both forecasts have been revised to 7.6% and 4%, respectively.
For Europe, the inflation forecasts have been revised from 6.8% in 2022 and 3.2% to 8.3% and 4.6% for each.
“Moscow’s actions disturb energy and grain supplies, pushing up prices, and weakening confidence,” Paolo Gentiloni, the economics commissioner of Europe, said in a statement.
“Record-high inflation is expected to peak and gradually decline in 2023. With the war and the reliability of gas supplies unknown, this forecast is subject to high uncertainty and downside risks,” he further said.
European officials are fearing a complete shutdown in gas supplies from Russia. Though the bloc has been reducing its purchases of Russian gas, these imports still represent an essential source of energy for the bloc, most notably for sectors that use gas as raw material, the chemicals sector.
Pipeline operator Nord Stream AG confirmed that maintenance work at its Nord Stream 1 is underway until July 21. The pipeline is crucial in transporting Russian gas to Germany and beyond. However, some concerns will not return to normal levels after the works are concluded.
