The European Central Bank is expected to keep rates on hold this week despite a backdrop of weakening growth in the United States that has raised hopes for a further monetary easing there.
Last week European central bankers said that some upward risks to price stability still lingered on in the euro zone, though risks overall had become more balanced.
They also remained optimistic about euro-zone growth this year and next, though some moderation of growth is likely.
All but one of 50 economists polled by Reuters expected the ECB to keep rates unchanged on Thursday, leaving its benchmark minimum bid rate at 4.75 percent.
The ECB's 18-member Governing Council is due to announce its decision at 1245 GMT on Thursday.
Since the Governing Council's last meeting two weeks ago, fresh data revealed an unexpected inflation jump in Italy and Germany, which together represent over half the euroarea economy. Inflation on the euro-zone's periphery remains hot, too.
While the ECB still assumes that euro-zone inflation will slip gradually towards its two percent medium-term limit, helped by a stronger euro and lower oil prices, inflation is proving stubbornly sticky for the time being.
Another question for the ECB is whether German producer prices set any trend for the euro zone. Germany's producer price index jumped sharply in January, with prices excluding oil products also up strongly, a sign of possible pipeline inflation.
Analysts have said the ECB would risk damaging its credibility if it cut rates while inflation was still lively.