Eastern Europe / Data
Ukraine's statistics service confirms 11.4% GDP drop in Q2
The fall in the gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine in April-June 2020 amounted to 11.4% compared to the same period in 2019, the State Statistics Service said on September 18, confirming its preliminary assessment published in the middle of Augu
Russia's CBR keeps interest flat on geopolitical tensions
The Board of the Central Bank of Russia has resolved to maintain the key interest rate flat at 4.25% in its policy meeting of September 18. The economy is doing well, but geopolitical tensions are rising
Russia industrial production fall slows to -7.2% in August y/y
In August, Russian industrial production posted a 7.2% y/y decline. August brought the 8M20 dynamic to -4.5% y/y.
What Belarus’ neighbours think about the revolution
With Belarus in uproar a new front in the geopolitical showdown between east and west has been opened. But really it's the people who live next door to Belarus – Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania – that matter the most
Ukraine's consumer inflation in August reaches 2.5% y/y
Ukraine’s consumer inflation increased to 2.5% year on year in August from 2.4% y/y in the prior month, the State Statistics Service reported on September 9.
Half of Ukrainians want to restore relations with Donbas
Half of Ukrainians (53%) want relations with the Donbas restored and see the local population as victims, according to a poll conducted by KIIS.
Belarus is bleeding money as reserves fall $1.4bn in a month
Belarus’ hard currency reserves fell by $1.4bn to $7.46bn as of September 1, down some 16% from $8.8bn (including gold) just before the current protests began in early August, according to National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB).
Railway cargo turnover in Russia shows signs of recovery in August
Total railways cargo turnover in Russia in August 2020 amounted to 108mn tonnes, down by 1% year on year, slowing the pace of decline
Russian weekly inflation at zero at end-August
Weekly consumer price inflation in Russia for the week of August 31 remained at zero, according to the latest data by the Rosstat statistics bureau.
Russia services PMI sees sharp rise in August’s business activity
The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Russia Services Business Activity Index continued at its high bounce-back level, posting 58.2 in August, only slightly down from 58.5 at the start of the third quarter.
Russia’s manufacturing PMI back in the black, rising to 51.1 in August
Russia’s manufacturing PMI was back in the black, rising to 51.1 in August from the mild contraction of 48.4 in July and completing the recovery from the index’s total collapse in the second quarter due to the coronacrisis.
Russian EconMin said to improve 2020 outlook
The revised fiscal outlook prepared by Russia's Ministry of Economic Development for September might include a notable upward revision of GDP forecasts from the previous 5% recession to a 3.9% recession expected in 2020.
FPRI BMB Russia: government has no idea how many companies it owns
The Russian government has no idea how many state-owned enterprises (SOEs) there are, a new report from the Audit Chamber argues.