& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

ECB fight against inflation a tough sell as economy stumbles

AFP, Frankfurt
The European Central Bank is trying to convince people in the eurozone that taking a tough stand on inflation will get them through lean economic times, arguing that long-term gains warrant shortterm pain.
Public opinion is emerging as key ground to be won since the bank raised its main lending rate despite signs that eco nomic activity was slowing sharply in the 15-nation eurozone.
The ECB argues that sustainable growth is best served by making sure people know the bank will target inflation of just below 2.0 percent, even if that means letting the economy contract for some months.
"So far it's been easy," commented Bank of America economist Gilles Moec, pointing to low interest rates a few years ago when many questioned
whether inflation had finally been beaten.
"I don't think any politician in France or Italy dreamed of seeing interest rates at 2.0 percent just three years after mone -tary union" in 1999, he said, referring to conditions that also fueled housing booms in countries like Spain and Ireland.
"Now we're getting into the territory where it hurts, where its painful."
Like economics around the world, the eurozone has been hit by high oil and food prices and tighter credit sparked by the global financial crisis that have eaten away at household budgets and curbed spending on many non-essential items.
Eurozone exporters are also hampered by the euro's rise to record highs above 1.60 dollars that make their products more expensive abroad, and weaker economic conditions in key trading regions that have reduced demand further.
The eurozone's trade balance fell into deficit in May, while industrial output slumped and growth forecasts were scaled back.
That has forced TYichet to make his case to the public, which he often does by refer ring to "the poorest and the most vulnerable that can do the least to protect themselves from rising inflation."
He argues for example that rising wages following the oil shocks of the 1970s created mass unemployment in Europe, compared with 15.7 million jobs generated since the single currency was born nine years ago.
"Speaking to several newspapers is a good way to communicate to the wider public," Commerbank economist Michael Schubert commented.
The central bank's policy he added, "completely depends on inflation expectations," or widespread belief that prices
will rise sharply or not in the future.
That can influence decisions from whether or not to buy a home appliance to business investments involving tens of millions of euros or long-term interest rates that require governments to pay massive sums to finance their budgets.
While ECB independence is firmly established, efforts to gain influence "could have some consequences if it was seen elsewhere, especially in the US or the UK, that there is some internal fragility in the system," the Bank of America economist said.
"What does not work today is the European political model," Broyer said after Ireland rejected the EU's draft Lisbon TYeaty designed to ease future enlargement.
Sarkozy is to visit Ireland Monday to explore ways of resolving the snub.