Euro Matters – the European Central Bank Podcast

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 of the European Central Bank.

Further reading:
Espresso Economics – Inflation stats vs your reality: the disconnect explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi-gZoA9WGk

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank

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
The ECB Blog – Euro adoption and price increases in Bulgaria: separating myths from facts
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2026/html/ecb.blog20260409~cc951a0d29.en.html

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank

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 statement at a glance, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2026/html/mopo_statement_explained_april.en.html

Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2026/html/ecb.is260430~f99cb123a8.en.html

Monetary policy decisions, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260430~81b7179e6f.en.html

Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 30 April 2026 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds260430~1c397fa90c.en.pdf

European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

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 those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Further reading:
The ECB Blog – Artificial Intelligence: friend or foe for hiring in Europe today?
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/blog/date/2026/html/ecb.blog20260304~d9e34fc95f.en.html

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

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.