ECB Wage Tracker Signals Slowdown in Euro-Zone Pay Growth for 2025
Feb 5, 2025

ECB Wage Tracker Signals Slowdown in Euro-Zone Pay Growth for 2025

The European Central Bank's key measure of upcoming euro-zone salary growth continues to indicate a significant slowdown in 2025, raising hopes for a further decline in inflation that could allow for additional interest-rate cuts. According to Bloomberg, the ECB's wage tracker foresees salaries increasing by a mere 1.5% annually in the fourth quarter of 2025. Though this is slightly above the 1.4% forecast from December, it is a considerable drop from the peak of 5.3% recorded a year earlier.

This information is pivotal for policymakers as it offers timely insights into salary trends, aiding in the assessment of optimal adjustments to borrowing costs. The ECB recently cut the deposit rate to 2.75% — its fifth reduction in the current cycle. The bank's aim to achieve a 2% inflation target this year hinges on the expectation that the expansion of wages will moderate and inflation in the labor-dominant services sector—persistently close to 4% for over a year—will soften.

President Christine Lagarde expressed optimism after the ECB's January monetary-policy meeting, stating, “All the indicators that we have at the moment are heading downward and are confirming our confidence that wages in 2025 will be going down." The ECB's data, including its tracker and compensation per employee, along with an ECB firm survey, points towards continued salary growth decline, projecting a decrease to 2.8% in 2027 from 4.6% last year.

Concerns do linger among economic analysts, who argue that such a marked slow in wage growth could be excessive. Nonetheless, some believe this easing trend is temporary, with projections from IndexBox suggesting that sectors like mining and transportation may see a rebound in demand, potentially exerting upward pressure on wages.

Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, anticipates a resurgence of wage increases, estimating a rise to about 4% in the coming year. Similarly, Marco Wagner, economist at Commerzbank, remains skeptical about the extent of wage growth deceleration indicated by the ECB's tracker, citing potential contingencies in long-term collective agreements that might not be fully accounted for.

As the European labor market navigates potential structural shortages and tight unemployment levels, the disparities in wage projections underscore the complex balancing act facing the ECB in aligning economic growth and inflation targets.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

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    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

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    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
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    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. GLOBAL PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY
  8. 8. GLOBAL IMPORTS

    The Largest Importers on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  9. 9. GLOBAL EXPORTS

    The Largest Exporters on The Market and How They Succeed

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

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  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

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    • United States
    • China
    • Japan
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Brazil
    • Italy
    • Russian Federation
    • India
    • Canada
    • Australia
    • Republic of Korea
    • Spain
    • Mexico
    • Indonesia
    • Netherlands
    • Turkey
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Switzerland
    • Sweden
    • Nigeria
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Argentina
    • Norway
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    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Colombia
    • Denmark
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    • Malaysia
    • Israel
    • Singapore
    • Egypt
    • Philippines
    • Finland
    • Chile
    • Ireland
    • Pakistan
    • Greece
    • Portugal
    • Kazakhstan
    • Algeria
    • Czech Republic
    • Qatar
    • Peru
    • Romania
    • Vietnam
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    3. Market Value, 2012–2024
    4. Per Capita Consumption, By Country, 2018–2024
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    8. Import Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    11. Export Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    2. Market Value, 2012–2024
    3. Consumption, By Country, 2024
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    6. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    7. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    8. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    9. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    10. Production Volume And Growth
    11. Exports And Growth
    12. Export Prices And Growth
    13. Market Size And Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports And Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    18. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    19. Production, By Country, 2024
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    22. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    26. Import Prices, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    28. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    32. Export Prices, 2012–2024

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