Euro Matters – the European Central Bank Podcast

Are we really watching cash disappear, or is that just what people on TikTok say?

In this episode of What the Euro?!, our host Catherine digs into the real story behind cash. To find out everything you need to know, she speaks to experts about how we’re using it, why it matters, why it’ll stay and what’s changing with new banknote designs and the digital euro.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Our podcast has a new name – welcome to Euro Matters!

In the first episode of our In Conversation series, President Christine Lagarde shares her own path to financial knowledge and explains why knowing about money matters – especially for women.

Recorded on 17 February 2026 and published on 3 March 2026.

In this episode:
01:10 – Why do financial topics make people feel uncomfortable?
02:15 – President Lagarde’s early experiences with managing finances
03:15 – Why is low financial knowledge a problem in Europe? And why does it matter for women in particular?
05:38 – How can women build confidence and take ownership of their finances?
06:40 – President Lagarde talks about the first time she realised that financial independence matters
07:50 – President Lagarde’s first jobs
08:55 – The best financial advice President Lagarde has ever received
09:52 – The financial advice President Lagarde would give to her younger self
10:25 – President Lagarde shares her hot tip

ECB web page on the gender gap
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/The-gender-gap-in-financial-literacy/html/index.en.html
Financial literacy in Europe
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb-and-you/financial_literacy_europe/html/index.en.html
ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/
EuroSteps Walking Challenge
https://www.walk15.app/en/download

How safe are our banks in the euro area?

The world around us is changing – geopolitical tensions , AI and climate change can all pose risks to banks.

So how can banks best manage their risks? What are supervisors focusing on in the coming year? And what measures are they taking to make supervision less complex?

Our host Stefania Secola speaks to Supervisory Board Chair Claudia Buch to find out.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Recorded on 4 February 2026 and published on 17 February 2026.

In this episode:

00:57 How safe is your bank?
How are euro area banks doing? How does the ECB – together with national supervisors – examine their health?

03:51 What risks should banks be focusing on?
How is the external environment in which banks operate changing? How can risks from geopolitical uncertainty, digitalisation and climate change feed through to banks?

06:02 How is supervision evolving?
In a changing external environment, we need new strategies to properly manage new risks. How is European supervision adapting to become more efficient, effective and risk-focused?

08:57 Why is supervision so complex?
Modern banks are complex, operating across borders and with different business models. How can we reduce undue complexity in supervision?

10:54 Let’s talk about competitiveness
Do regulation and supervision hinder the competitiveness of euro area banks? What does the banking sector need to do to stay competitive, and how can European banking supervision help?

13:02 Our guest’s hot tips

Claudia Buch shares her hot tips.

Streamlining supervision, safeguarding resilience:
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/framework/approach/html/simplification.en.html

Governing Council proposes simplification of EU banking rules: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.pr251211~aa5c9271b8.en.html

Banking supervision explained
https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/about/banking-supervision-explained/html/index.en.html

Espresso Economics
https://www.youtube.com/@Espresso_Economics

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy.

Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:

• how the economy is performing
• how we expect prices to develop
• the risks to the economic outlook
• the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions

Published and recorded during our press conference on 5 February 2026.

Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 5 February 2026
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2026/html/mopo_statement_explained_february.en.html

Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 5 February 2026
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2026/html/ecb.is260205~50858cb986.en.html

Monetary policy decisions, 5 February 2026
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.mp260205~001d26959b.en.html

Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 5 February 2026
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds260205~0c74e825a7.en.pdf

European Central Bank
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

How much do you spend on food every month?

Food is one expense we simply can’t go without – we all need to eat, after all! But you may have noticed that your morning eggs, lunchtime sandwich, or favourite late-night snack is costing more than it used to.

How have food prices changed over the past year? What’s driving the price increases? And what’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026?

Our host Stefania Secola speaks to economists Elisabeth Wieland and Zivile Zekaite to answer these questions.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Recorded on 20 January 2026 and published on 26 January 2026.

In this episode:

02:23 Is food really getting more expensive?

How do we track changes in food prices? How did food inflation develop in 2025? And what role does media coverage play?

05:39 Which foods are especially affected?

Some prices are up, others are down. Why have items like coffee, cocoa and meat been hit the hardest?

08:26 Have some products also become cheaper?

While meat and sweet treats have become more expensive, items like vegetables and butter have become cheaper. The overall food basket tells an interesting story and is influenced by its different components.

09:13 What’s driving price increases for certain products?

Raw material costs, climate change, and supply and demand factors all affect food prices. Rising wages and energy costs also play a role.

12:35 Why do food prices matter so much?

Food is a big part of our budget and cannot be replaced by other items. Also, since we go to the supermarket often, food prices play a big role in shaping our inflation expectations.

19:10 What can we do about rising food prices?

Temporary vs structural changes – how do they differ? And what’s the ECB’s role when it comes to inflation and food prices?

20:52 What’s in store for our grocery bills in 2026?

Good news: food inflation is set to ease in the coming year. So, what does this mean for your wallet?

22:06 Our guests’ hot tips

Elisabeth and Zivile share their hot tips.

Further reading:

Inside the food basket: what is behind recent food inflation? (Economic Bulletin Issue 8, 2025)

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/focus/2026/html/ecb.ebbox202508_07~8e10bb606b.en.html

Consumer Expectations Survey https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/ecb_surveys/consumer_exp_survey/html/index.en.html

Elisabeth’s hot tip: use food price comparison websites and apps for tracking prices

Zivile’s hot tip: look at the price per kilogram to find the best-value food

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/