ECB Policymaker Says Inflation Risks May Require Hikes

"Persistently elevated inflation that we see in our September projection and the lack of resolution of conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere, supports the case for moving policy rates towards a more restrictive territory," ECB policymaker Primoz Dolenc said on Oct. 8, 2026. Inflation hit 3.8% in September, nearly double the ECB's 2% target; the deposit rate is 2.50% after two hikes this year. Dolenc, Slovenia's central bank governor, said timing and size will be decided meeting-by-meeting on incoming data, and stable core inflation suggests limited pass-through to services. A Reuters poll of 73 economists (Oct. 5-8) found 70 expect a hold on Oct. 29 and 64 expect a 25-basis-point December hike. Forty of 70 see a 2.75% peak; 24 expect 3.00%. Jens Eisenschmidt of Morgan Stanley said the main risk is one more hike, maybe in March. No factual disputes among outlets. Coverage was center-only; no left- or right-rated headlines. Focus remains on inflation and energy data before Oct. 29.