A European Central Bank survey shows eurozone companies are raising their expectations for costs and inflation as geopolitical tensions intensify, while Philip Lane warned that prolonged Middle East strains could push eurozone inflation above 4%. Together, the survey and Lane’s warning point to a more difficult policy backdrop for the European Central Bank, as persistent price pressures may require tighter monetary policy even as growth weakens. The reported risks include higher energy and commodity costs, supply-chain disruption, weaker business confidence, and a rising chance of stagflation, with implications for interest-rate expectations, bond yields, credit conditions, and broader asset-market sentiment.