ECB Raises Benchmark Rate to 2.25% as Impact of Iran War Inflation Felt

The European Central Bank has announced its first interest rate increase in almost three years, raising its benchmark rate as it seeks to tackle rising inflation across the eurozone.     The move comes amid growing concerns over the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on global energy prices and the wider economy, and it's a decision that will have real consequences for mortgage holders, savers and households already facing cost-of-living pressures.    To help us understand what this latest ECB decision means for Ireland, and what could lie ahead for borrowers and the wider economy, Alan Morrissey was joined by Ennis native and Assistant Professor of Social Policy at University College Dublin, Micheál Collins. Image (c) claudiodivizia via Canva