Euro (EUR)

Eurozone — European Central Bank

Single currency of the euro area — the world's second-most-traded currency.

FX Session:
London
EUR/USD
1.17000
EUR/USD Exchange Rate
Economic Indicators
Indicator Latest Previous Change Date
Policy Rate 2.0 2025-06-11
Inflation 2.0 2.0 0.00 2025-06-01
Core Inflation 2.3 2.3 0.00 2025-06-01
Gdp 3287.844 3297.684 -9.84 2025-06-30
Unemployment 6.4 6.4 0.00 2025-06-01
Trade Balance 37691.740900000004 37877.0241 -185.28 2025-06-01
Retail Sales 3.9 2.8 +1.10 2025-06-01
Ppi 0.9 0.4 +0.50 2025-06-01
CFTC Commitment of Traders — EUR

About the Euro (EUR)

The euro (EUR) is the official currency of 20 European Union member states that together form the euro area. It is the second-most-held reserve currency and the second-most-traded currency in the world after the US dollar. EUR/USD is the single most-traded currency pair globally.

European Central Bank: monetary policy framework

The European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council sets monetary policy for the euro area, with a primary mandate of price stability defined as 2% inflation over the medium term. Policy decisions are taken every six weeks and signalled through the deposit facility rate, main refinancing operations rate, and asset purchase programmes.

What moves the EUR?

  • ECB deposit facility rate and forward guidance from the Governing Council.
  • Bund yields and peripheral spreads (Italy, Spain, Greece vs Germany).
  • Eurostat HICP and core HICP inflation, country-level CPI flash readings.
  • Eurozone composite PMI, German Ifo and ZEW business sentiment surveys.
  • Energy prices — the euro area is a net energy importer, so EUR is sensitive to oil and TTF gas.
  • US-Germany yield differentials, which historically anchor EUR/USD direction.

Key data and events to watch

  • ECB monetary policy decision and press conference.
  • Eurozone HICP flash estimate (early in the month).
  • ECB Account of the monetary policy meeting.
  • Eurozone GDP flash, German industrial production and IFO.
  • TLTRO repayments and PEPP/APP reinvestment guidance.

Frequently asked questions about the Euro

Which countries use the euro?
The euro is the official currency of 20 EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.
How often does the ECB meet?
The ECB Governing Council holds monetary policy meetings every six weeks, typically eight times per year. Decisions are announced at 14:15 CET followed by a press conference at 14:45 CET.
What drives the EUR/USD exchange rate?
EUR/USD is driven primarily by the policy-rate differential between the ECB and the Federal Reserve, US-Germany 2-year yield spreads, eurozone vs. US growth surprises, and global risk sentiment. Energy prices also matter because the euro area is a net energy importer.