FRANKFURT (AFX) - European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg said the prospects for price stability in the euro area are now "less favourable" than they were at the end of last year. Speaking at the ECB's regular news conference he said it is still possible inflation will fall below the ECB's stability ceiling of 2 pct in the coming months, but the outcome is highly dependent on oil price developments. He went on to say wage deals in some parts of the euro area could also become a "matter of concern" for the ECB. Duisenberg said the outlook for economic growth remains marked by uncertainty and recent price developments have also been partly caused by temporary factors. He also noted that business confidence in the euro area has improved considerably recently. He said growth in the euro area should return to potential of 2-2.5 pct by the end of this year, with "solid growth" resuming in 2003.