An increasing number of the ECB's policymakers are pondering to postpone part of a decision on the future path of the Bank's stimulus, expected to be made at the December meeting, as the economic outlook has been clouded by the Omicron coronavirus variant and accelerating inflation, Reuters reported, citing sources.
According to the sources, the policymakers agree that the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) should end in March, as signaled by the ECB's president Lagarde. But, with respect to a decision on the purchases of the bonds after March, some policymakers prefer to delay consideration of it to the ECB’s February meeting, when there will be more certainty about the impact of the Omicron strain and inflation.