by Annika Steiner MRICS, Partner and Managing Director at Wüest Partner
The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised the deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50%, as expected. After the interest rate hike in June and the pause in July, this is the second interest rate hike this year.
With the interest rate hike, the ECB is reacting to the continued elevation of inflation in the euro area. In August, the inflation rate rose to 3.3%, according to estimates, after 2.9% in July. This was mainly due to higher energy prices, while core inflation remained largely stable. Price pressures have therefore not broadened significantly so far. However, the inflation rate remains well above the medium-term inflation target of 2.0%.
Energy prices determine the further interest rate path
Energy prices remain a major risk factor. Due to the renewed escalation in the Middle East, oil prices have risen again, and a sustainable easing is currently not in sight. The decisive factor for monetary policy is therefore whether the energy price shock remains temporary or has an impact on other prices and wages. So far, there are no clear signs of pronounced second-round effects.
The recent robust economy is likely to have made it even easier for the ECB to move interest rates. The euro area economy grew in the 2nd quarter of 2026, and the latest indicators continue to point to an expansion. The risk that further tightening will have a severe impact on the economy thus appears lower than it did in July. The further interest rate path thus remains open. If the inflation outlook does not improve significantly or the energy-related price surge spreads to other prices and wages, additional interest rate hikes cannot be ruled out.
Financing remains the bottleneck for the real estate market
For the real estate industry, the largely expected interest rate hike itself is less important than the prospect of a higher interest rate level overall. The increased interest rate expectations have already increased financing costs on the capital market. More challenging financing conditions are making project developments more difficult in particular and could slow down the further revival of the transaction market. Financing residential property is also tending to become more expensive for private households.
For real estate investors, today’s decision is therefore likely to be less decisive than the further development of interest rates. Whether the ECB has to make adjustments depends largely on whether inflationary pressure eases or becomes increasingly entrenched in the economy as a whole.
For the real estate industry, the decisive factor remains how inflation and financing costs develop and whether the ECB can avoid a prolonged series of interest rate hikes.
