Headlines
Big central banks tilt towards hiking mode as inflation nerves rise
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 11, 2025
4 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 11, 2025
4 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Central banks in major economies are signaling potential rate hikes as inflation concerns grow, marking a shift from previous monetary easing policies.
By Naomi Rovnick and Alun John
LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Central banks in big economies are signalling a change of stance, with many now on hold after a long easing cycle, and policymakers flagging that their next moves could be rate hikes if inflation takes hold again.
The European Central Bank all but confirmed it was done with monetary easing, while the Bank of England cut rates in a narrow vote as dissenters cautioned about price pressures. Markets still expect more U.S. monetary easing next year, but some Federal Reserve policymakers have also warned the world's biggest economy might already be running too hot.
Here's where central banks in 10 developed markets stand:
1/ SWITZERLAND
The Swiss National Bank left its policy interest rate unchanged at 0% on December 11, the lowest among developed-market central banks, and said the recent agreement to reduce U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods had improved the economic outlook.
Even though Swiss inflation is at zero as the strong safe-haven franc lowers import costs, the bar for bringing rates into negative territory is high, and economists expect price growth to recover mildly next year and the SNB to stay on hold throughout 2026.
2/ CANADA
The Bank of Canada held its key rate at 2.25% last week, after 225 basis points of easing this cycle. Governor Tiff Macklem said the economy was proving resilient to U.S. trade measures.
The BOC is expected to keep rates on hold until 2027, after government spending and robust oil exports lifted third-quarter growth to 2.6% and the labour market strengthened.
3/ SWEDEN
Sweden's Riksbank also expects previous monetary easing to begin lifting GDP growth and with year-on-year inflation running just above its 2% target, it held rates at 1.75% on December 18 and analysts anticipate it will hike again in late 2026.
4/ NEW ZEALAND
With unemployment stuck at a nine-year high, turning hawkish will be a tough choice for new Reserve Bank of New Zealand boss Anna Breman.
With a string of punchy rate cuts having helped propel inflation to the top end of the central bank's target range, however, money markets see New Zealand's cash rate nearing 3% by December 2026 from 2.25% currently.
5/ EURO ZONE
The European Central Bank has been firmly on hold at 2% since June and its latest pause on Thursday also came with upgrades to growth and inflation forecasts.
Traders did not brave strong bets for monetary tightening, however, after ECB President Christine Lagarde cited heavy uncertainty and avoided forward guidance.
6/ UNITED STATES
The Federal Reserve cut rates on December 10, in a divided vote, then hinted at a pause.
Delayed jobs data showed that the labour market had declined in October, then snapped back the following month and U.S. business leaders also expect further price rises from tariffs.
Fed policymakers predict just one 25 bps cut in 2026, which may spark disagreements with President Donald Trump, who wants more easing, with all eyes on how dovish Fed Chair Jay Powell's as-yet-unnamed replacement might turn out to be.
7/ BRITAIN
Bank of England rate-setters voted narrowly for a quarter-point cut to 3.75% on Thursday and Governor Andrew Bailey warned future easing was a close call.
Even though the British government's tax-hiking November 26 budget has soured economic sentiment and is expected to dampen inflation next year, the BoE's dissenters were concerned about price growth getting stuck too high.
8/ NORWAY
The Norges Bank has been the most cautious in the G10 pack, having cut rates by just 50 bps this cycle.
It held borrowing costs steady on Thursday, although futures markets anticipate 44 bps of further easing next year after inflation cooled off.
9/ AUSTRALIA
The Reserve Bank of Australia looks like it will be first to the turning point. On Tuesday, it held rates steady at 3.6%, ruled out further policy easing and, most notably, warned its next move could be up if inflation pressures prove to be stubborn.
That gave the Australian dollar a boost, and weighed on government bonds. Markets are fully pricing a hike by June 2026, and see a good chance it will come in May.
10/ JAPAN
The Bank of Japan, the sole central bank in hiking mode for now, is set to raise rates to 0.75% at its meeting on Friday.
Japanese markets are in focus globally. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's announcement of massive stimulus has sent longer-dated government bond yields surging, with spillovers elsewhere, while the yen is under pressure.
Governor Kazuo Ueda would be relieved if his post-meeting remarks avoid accelerating the selloff in one or the other.
(Reporting by Naomi Rovnick and Alun John, editing by Amanda Cooper and Alex Richardson)
A central bank is a financial institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates. It oversees the banking system and implements monetary policy to achieve economic stability.
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, eroding purchasing power. Central banks aim to control inflation to maintain economic stability.
Interest rates are the cost of borrowing money or the return on savings, expressed as a percentage. They are influenced by central bank policies and affect economic activity.
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic goals such as controlling inflation and stabilizing the currency.
Economic growth is an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period. It is typically measured by the rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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