The European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates again this week in a bid to boost the floundering eurozone economy, even as debate heats up about when to hit pause. - Rate debate - Some policymakers are starting to ask how the central bank should continue on the path downward.

For four years, the ECB has been trying to slow the economy down, raising its key deposit rate to a record 4 percent to choke off inflation, before gradually lifting its foot off the brake since June. Next week’s expected rate cut will be the sixth in the current sequence, and will bring the deposit rate down to 2.5 percent.

The European Central Bank will trim its deposit rate again next week to 2.50%, according to all 82 economists polled by Reuters who expected two further cuts by the middle of this year.

Falling energy prices made up much of the drop, but prices of services also lost pace.

Economists have added a big disclaimer to their view that the European Central Bank will cut interest rates three more times: Donald Trump.

Euro zone inflation prospects improved while growth remained anaemic, fresh data showed on Friday, solidifying the case for further ECB rate cuts to stimulate an economy that has been stagnant for nearly two years.