LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Quantitative easing is probably coming to the euro zone in the foreseeable future as the European Central Bank scrambles to deal with low inflation, economists at Citigroup said in a note on Tuesday. "We believe that the chances of unsterilized large-scale asset purchases (LSAPs) of public and private assets being launched this year have therefore increased to more than 50:50," European economist Guillaume Menuet said in the note. He explained that the strategy of expanding the ECB's balance sheet would help directly reduce yields and indirectly weaken the euro and support private-sector lending. Before the possible launch of QE, however, the ECB will probably cut rates at its June meeting in response to lower inflation expectations. "QE, if it happens, will likely come in September or December 2014, as the ECB will probably retain hope that some easing in June will result in a weaker euro and support the recovery, helping push up inflation," Menuet said.