Mario Draghi Warns Higher Rates Likely New Normal

At the MIPIM global real estate convention, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi indicated that higher interest rates are likely to become the 'new normal' due to persistent government deficits and the challenges they pose for central banks. He emphasized that central banks will struggle to reduce rates significantly amid these pressures. Meanwhile, ECB Governing Council member Joachim Nagel stated that the European Central Bank is not on autopilot regarding interest rate decisions, highlighting the uncertainty leading up to their next policy meeting in April. Although the ECB had previously cut rates to support a struggling eurozone economy, recent geopolitical events and fiscal changes in Germany are complicating the outlook for future monetary policy. The ongoing tension between higher rates and the need for economic stability in the real estate sector was echoed by Newmark CEO Barry Gosin, who noted that stability, even at higher rates, could be manageable. Overall, the discussions reflect a complex interplay of fiscal policy, interest rates, and market responses in a changing economic landscape.