(Reuters) -
European Central Bank Governing Council member Christian Noyer said on Monday
that interest rates have to remain low for an extended period and might go even
lower if needed as officials try to ensure the euro zone does not fall into
deflation.
Central
bankers have to invent policies to achieve price stability if conventional
monetary policy stops working, Noyer said, suggesting the ECB will keep its
options open after a surprise slowdown in inflation.
"We
see risks that low inflation will remain for some time," Noyer said at a
conference in Tokyo .