despite inflation falling below ecb's 2% ceiling for the first time in 21 months, economists wary of stronger domestic pressure it may create Uncertainty over whether drop in oil price will fuel rate hikes

By Simone Meier, Bloomberg columnist Cheaper oil is helping ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet meet his inflation goal. However, it may complicate his task of setting interest rates by spurring economic growth and generating more persistent price increases. The 20% drop in crude since 14 July pushed the inflation rate in the euro area below the bank's ceiling of 2% in September for the first time since January 2005. The decline leaves companies and consumers with more money to spend, stoking expansion that is already forecast to be the fastest in six years and making it easier for fi...