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"The caution is justified by the subdued inflation dynamics since the second half of 2017 and the recent levels of headline inflation," said Constancio, whose term at the bank expires at the end of the month.
He added that some studies by the bank's staff show that the euro zone economy continues to have ample spare capacity, even as other models indicate that the output gap is already closed.
Excess spare capacity would indicate that inflation will need even longer to accelerate as the unemployment rate at which wages rise more sharply may be lower than thought.