site.btaECB President Says Bulgaria's Commitment to Sound Public Finances Is Key amid High Inflation

European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde acknowledged the high prices and inflation levels in Bulgaria and highlighted the country's commitment to observe sound public finances. Her comment came as a response to a BTA question at a press conference on Thursday after a monetary policy meeting of ECB's Governing Council in Frankfurt am Mein, Germany. 

"You are correct that Bulgaria is currently experiencing high price level, high inflation and that might have to do with the fact that some prices that have been kept on hold for a period of time have found their way into the markets. It is not totally unusual and we always have divergences between Member States," she said.

"I think what matters is the commitment of Bulgaria to observe sound public finances and to make sure that inflation returns to more acceptable levels - in particular for the Bulgarian population. We monitor the overall euro area but we are attentive to divergences and this is clearly one of them in the moment," Lagarde added. 

Earlier on Thursday, the ECB kept its key interest rates unchanged.