Euro Matters – the European Central Bank Podcast

What does AI mean for your job, our economy and Europe’s future? In this episode of Euro Matters, Stefania Secola speaks to Ronnie Chatterji – Chief Economist at OpenAI – about AI adoption, productivity and inequality. They also discuss competition and whether the technology can become a force for broad-based prosperity. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of th...

At this year’s ECB Forum on Central Banking in Sintra, Portugal, President Christine Lagarde sat down with central bank heads from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. They discussed how they are fighting inflation, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Published and recorded on 1 July 2026. 2026 ECB Forum on Central Banking https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/h...

Life is getting more expensive – but what can we actually do when our wallets feel the squeeze? In our latest What the Euro?! episode, Emilie Bellet – founder of financial empowerment community Vestpod and host of the Wallet podcast – talks to Catherine about money stress, everyday overspending and the habits that really make a difference. From “money dates” to smarter saving, get practical tips t...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 11 June 2026. Our monetary policy statem...

War in the Middle East, soaring energy prices and upside risks to inflation are clouding the financial stability outlook for the euro area. How resilient are banks and markets? Are investors underestimating geopolitical risks? And how exposed is the financial system to stretched asset valuations? In this episode of Euro Matters, Paul Gordon speaks with John Fell about these questions and more. The...

Catherine’s favourite falafel wrap went from €5 to €7 – and it sent her down a rabbit hole. Join our host as she explores a simple question: why do prices seem to be going up all the time? Along the way, you’ll uncover what’s behind the cost-of-living squeeze, why it hits people differently and what the ECB is doing about it. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those...

Did prices rise when Bulgaria adopted the euro? Or were fears of inflation misplaced? The numbers tell a clear story. Christine Gartner and Ginevra Aguiari talk about what really happened to prices and inflation in Bulgaria and explain how perceptions and expectations have changed. The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank. Further reading...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 30 April 2026. Our monetary policy state...

AI is everywhere, but does it automatically put your job at risk? In this episode of What the Euro?!, our host Catherine speaks to Laura – ECB economist specialising in AI and the labour market – to separate fact from fiction. They discuss how widespread AI use is, what factors lead to job losses or job creation and who stands to benefit the most in the new world of work. The views expressed are t...

Tariffs are the highest in a century and the war in Iran has triggered a fresh energy shock. Christiane Nickel explains how uncertainty caused by trade policy and war is affecting euro area growth and inflation. Recorded on 27 March 2026 and published on 7 April 2026.

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 19 March 2026. Our monetary policy state...

Are we really watching cash disappear, or is that just what people on TikTok say? In this episode of What the Euro?!, our host Catherine digs into the real story behind cash. To find out everything you need to know, she speaks to experts about how we’re using it, why it matters, why it’ll stay and what’s changing with new banknote designs and the digital euro. The views expressed are those of the...

Our podcast has a new name – welcome to Euro Matters! In the first episode of our In Conversation series, President Christine Lagarde shares her own path to financial knowledge and explains why knowing about money matters – especially for women. Recorded on 17 February 2026 and published on 3 March 2026. In this episode: 01:10 – Why do financial topics make people feel uncomfortable? 02:15 – Presi...

How safe are our banks in the euro area? The world around us is changing – geopolitical tensions , AI and climate change can all pose risks to banks. So how can banks best manage their risks? What are supervisors focusing on in the coming year? And what measures are they taking to make supervision less complex? Our host Stefania Secola speaks to Supervisory Board Chair Claudia Buch to find out. Th...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 5 February 2026. Our monetary policy sta...

How much do you spend on food every month? Food is one expense we simply can’t go without – we all need to eat, after all! But you may have noticed that your morning eggs, lunchtime sandwich, or favourite late-night snack is costing more than it used to. How have food prices changed over the past year? What’s driving the price increases? And what’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026? Our host...

The euro family is growing. Bulgaria is gearing up to adopt the euro. But what hopes and fears come with the transition? And were there similar feelings in other countries? To explore these questions, our podcast team spoke with content creators Mihaela, Elena and Stefan (also known as Chefo) to hear their perspectives on the transition. Meanwhile, in the podcast studio, our host Stefania Secola e...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 18 December 2025. Our monetary policy st...

When it comes to the risks to financial stability, things seem to have settled down a bit. But with trade tensions, an unpredictable US economic policy, geopolitical issues, a potential AI bubble and the rise of stablecoins, there is plenty to keep an eye on. Has the global environment really become less uncertain? And how do all these factors impact financial stability? To explore these questions...

Our payment habits are changing. With digital payments on the rise, we need to preserve people’s freedom to choose how to pay: there’s cash, card, online transfers – and soon, we could have a digital euro. But what is the digital euro, and how will it work? Will it replace cash? Concerns about data security and government control have sparked debate around the digital euro, often fuelled by disinf...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 30 October 2025. Our monetary policy sta...

The verdict on climate change is bleaker than ever before. The remaining carbon budget to limit global warming to 1.5°C is rapidly shrinking – equivalent to just three years of emissions at current rates. What is the scientific framework known as planetary boundaries? What’s science telling us about the economic impact of climate change? And how is the ECB addressing climate and nature-related ris...

Banks are the backbone of our economy. In a rapidly changing environment, they need to adapt and stay competitive to keep providing funding to people and businesses. But so does ECB Banking Supervision. What are we doing to become more efficient, effective and risk-focused? And how are we simplifying supervision while safeguarding resilience? Our host Stefania Secola speaks to Supervisory Board me...

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy. Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers: • how the economy is performing • how we expect prices to develop • the risks to the economic outlook • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions Published and recorded during our press conference on 11 September 2025. Our monetary policy s...

Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 24 July 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2025/html/mopo_statement_explained_july.en.html Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 24 July 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2025/html/ecb.is250724~a66e730494.en.html Monetary policy decisions, 24 July 2025 htt...