Inflation and rising energy prices devastate EU economies

Prices in the eurozone continued to march higher in May as the inflation rate hit a record high of 8.1%. This was the seventh consecutive month of record high inflation in the 19 countries that share the Euro.

The inflation rate in May was up from April's record high of 7.4% and higher than the projected 7.8%. This comes after inflation prints from several major European economies surprised to the upside in recent days.

Yes, well, this trend has been going on for months now and has exceeded even the most negative predictions of eurozone central banks and the European Central Bank.

Yannis Koutsomitis, European Affairs Analyst

German inflation came in at an annual 8.7% In May. It significantly outstripped analysts’ expectations of 8 percent and marked a sharp rise from the 7.8% seen in April.

European economic crisis: inflation and rising energy prices

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Germany is planning to ease pressure on consumers through a series of policies including cheap monthly tickets for regional public transport between June and August and a discount for drivers at gas stations.

This is partly to blame on the energy crisis that is,.. that has been exaggerated about the ongoing war in Ukraine but also on matters that are beyond Europe's reach like the lockdown in China. And also other factors in European economies.

Yannis Koutsomitis, European Affairs Analyst

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French inflation also surpassed expectations in May reaching a record 5.8%, up from 5.4% in April, France's economy contracted in the first quarter of the fiscal year under the impact of soaring inflation. The economy shrank by 0.2% from the previous quarter after last year's strong 6.8% recovery as the COVID 19 pandemic eased.

Spanish consumer prices also jumped by an annual 8.5% in May, exceeding expectations of 8.1%. inflation in the Eurozone is now four times more than the ECB target of 2%.

German inflation highest in nearly 50 years amid soaring energy prices

The inflation rate in Germany has climbed to a new record of 7.9 percent in May, the highest figure in nearly half a century, according to an official estimate.

Multiple factors have contributed to the rising inflation rate in the euro zone. First and foremost is the rising energy price. Across the Eurozone the record annual consumer price increase was driven by soaring energy costs, which hit 39.2% which is up from 37.5% in April.

It was all calculated in the decision making process of the European leaders. I think most of the countries are now dealing with this extreme rise of gas and oil prices, especially oil, [which] is hitting the European consumers very hard. But the political pressure from, also from the Eastern European countries and from the US but also from big European countries, Is for, was for these oil embargo on Russia. And it was like a political, let's say bet.

Yannis Koutsomitis, European Affairs Analyst

Eurozone inflation hits another record high as food and energy prices soar

Prices in the eurozone touched another record high in May, challenging the European Central Bank

The European Union leaders have struck a deal to ban the majority of Russian oil imports in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. The agreement covers more than two thirds of oil imports from Russia. The measure is expected to further push up energy prices, and then there are disruptions in the global supply chains.

 The world economy is still reeling from COVID related bottlenecks and the war in Ukraine has caused serious disruptions to global trade. Finally, COVID lockdowns in China have put further strain on the global economy.

Hungary warns of 'era of recession' in Europe amid energy crisis, soaring inflation

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban has raised alarm over an “era of recession” in Europe as the continent grapples with the energy crisis and soaring inflation amid the raging war in Ukraine.

So, right now central banks are in, somehow, deadlock situation because there are no easy way out of this inflationary trend. There is also the risk of creating a recession if the rise in rates and the contraction of the expansion of the economy is very abrupt.

Yannis Koutsomitis, European Affairs Analyst

ECB president Christine Lagarde and chief economist Philip Lane in a bid to contain inflation have already announced certain measures but economists doubt they will be enough. Earlier this month, European Central Bank President Lagarde said she was anticipating a rate rise at the central bank's meeting in July, a move which could cause another recession in the eurozone.

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The European Commission substantially reduced its eurozone growth forecast for 2022.

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