Government bond auction · European Union

European Union 6-Month Bill Auction

The European Union 6-Month Bill Auction is a sale of new government debt by the European Union's treasury or debt agency to investors.

Importance
Low
Released
Every two weeks
Next release
Currency
EUR · euro
Central bank
The European Central Bank

Latest figures

The latest release, published on 21 October 2026, came in at 2.929%, up from 2.827% the time before.

Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 2.366% to 2.929%, averaging 2.569%; it has been rising for three releases in a row.

Apr 2026: 2.494%May 2026: 2.366%May 2026: 2.385%Jun 2026: 2.424%Jun 2026: 2.416%Jul 2026: 2.433%Jul 2026: 2.532%Aug 2026: 2.533%Sep 2026: 2.682%Sep 2026: 2.810%Oct 2026: 2.827%Oct 2026: 2.929% Apr 2026Oct 2026
Actual results; the short line on a bar marks the consensus.
ReleasedForActualConsensusPrevious
21 Oct 2026–2.929%–2.827%
7 Oct 2026–2.827%–2.810%
16 Sep 2026–2.810%–2.682%
2 Sep 2026–2.682%–2.533%
5 Aug 2026–2.533%–2.532%
15 Jul 2026–2.532%–2.433%
1 Jul 2026–2.433%–2.416%
17 Jun 2026–2.416%–2.424%
3 Jun 2026–2.424%–2.385%
20 May 2026–2.385%–2.366%
6 May 2026–2.366%–2.494%
22 Apr 2026–2.494%–2.319%

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

Auctions show the demand for a country's debt. A weak auction (low cover ratio, a yield above where the bond traded before the sale, the "tail") can push yields up across the market; a strong one calms them. In times of fiscal stress auctions get close attention.

How it is calculated

Bidders submit the yield (or price) at which they will buy; the debt office allocates from the lowest yield up until the amount is sold. The release reports the average or highest yield and the bid-to-cover ratio.

Bid-to-cover = amount bid ÷ amount sold

What changes mean

  • Bid-to-cover above its recent average and no tail: solid demand.
  • Index-linked and green bonds are smaller auctions with their own investor base.

A short history

Most governments moved from fixed-price syndicates to regular auctions in the 1970s–1990s; the US Treasury has auctioned bills since 1929.

Releases for the whole EU include countries outside the euro.

Questions

What is the European Union 6-Month Bill Auction?

The European Union 6-Month Bill Auction is a sale of new government debt by the European Union's treasury or debt agency to investors.

What was the latest European Union 6-Month Bill Auction?

2.929%, published on 21 October 2026.

When is the next European Union 6-Month Bill Auction?

On Wednesday 4 November 2026 at 11:10 UTC.

Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.