Finance
ECB's Lagarde sticks with 'good place' mantra
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 23, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 23, 2026
Quick Summary
ECB President Christine Lagarde said inflation and rates are in a good place, signaling no imminent policy shift. She emphasized a data-dependent, agile approach after remarks at a Washington conference.
Lagarde Reaffirms ECB Is in a 'Good Place' on Inflation, Rates
Lagarde’s 'Good Place' Assessment
FRANKFURT, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation and the European Central Bank's interest rate policy remain in a "good place," ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Monday, repeating her long standing guidance, which signals that policy change is not being considered.
Remarks in Washington
Inflation and Rate Policy
"I very strongly believe that we are in that good place," Lagarde told a conference in Washington.
Agility and Ongoing Assessment
"Every step of the way we have to assess whether we are in that good place that I'm characterizing now, which, as a result, also imply that we have to be agile and determine whether something needs to be done," she said.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Balazs KoranyiEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
Key Takeaways
- •Christine Lagarde says eurozone inflation and ECB policy are in a good place.
- •Signals no immediate policy change while stressing meeting-by-meeting decisions.
- •Reiterates data-dependent, agile stance to respond if conditions shift.
- •Remarks delivered at a conference in Washington, underscoring global context.
- •Message aims to temper market expectations for rapid policy moves.
Frequently Asked Questions about ECB's Lagarde sticks with 'good place' mantra
1What is the main topic?
ECB President Christine Lagarde reaffirmed that eurozone inflation and interest rates are in a good place, indicating no immediate change to the central bank’s policy stance.
2What does 'good place' mean in this context?
It signals that current inflation and policy settings are appropriate, while the ECB remains data-dependent and ready to act if the outlook changes.
3Did Lagarde hint at rate cuts or hikes?
No. She avoided forward guidance, reiterating that decisions will be taken meeting by meeting, based on incoming data.
