Trichet Sees Euro-Zone Growth Stalling in 2Q, 3Q, Figaro Says

By Albertina Torsoli

July 18 (Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet sees economic growth in the euro zone stalling in the second and third quarter, before a gradual return to ``moderate'' growth, Le Figaro said.

The ECB remains committed to guaranteeing medium-term price stability and getting inflation back to ``below 2 percent, close to 2 percent,'' Trichet said in a joint interview with the French daily and three other European newspapers.

``It is necessary to avoid second-round effects'' of inflation, Trichet told the newspaper, adding that while policy makers can't change the price of oil, they can limit the inflationary impact of the price of services or wage increases.

To contact the reporter on this story: Albertina Torsoli in Paris at atorsoli@bloomberg.net