Page 31 - RusRPTSept20

that doesn't compare with Rosstat’s consumer confidence which has collapsed to -30, although this indicator is only updated quarterly.
Inflation remains subdued due to the collapse in demand but manufacturing firms registered a faster rise in input costs in August. Higher operating expenses were commonly linked to greater supplier costs and unfavourable exchange rates, which pushed imported goods price up. The rate of inflation was the fastest for four months and strong overall.
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) reports that consumer price inflation (CPI) was 3.4% in July, still well below the central bank’s target rate of 4%, but economists are predicting inflation will rise in the third quarter to between 4%- 5% as the economy recovers and recent weakness in the ruble feeds through to prices. The CBR has also been aggressively cutting rates to stimulate the economy which also exerts upward pressure on prices. However, the producer price index of inflation (PPI) remains depressed thanks to the economic slowdown.
“Companies were able to raise their selling prices at a quicker rate midway through the third quarter. The rate of increase was only modest, but the fastest for three months,” reports Markit. “Input buying rose fractionally and for the first time since August 2019 amid a pick-up in new order inflows. A marked fall in pre-production inventories were meanwhile linked to greater production requirements as firms used stocks to fulfil orders.”
Siân Jones, Economist at IHS Markit, which compiles the Russia Manufacturing PMI survey, commented: "Russian manufacturers saw the first improvement in operating conditions since April 2019 in August, amid an uptick in production and new orders. The resumption of business at firms and their clients helped boost output as domestic demand strengthened. By contrast, foreign clients remained hesitant as the pandemic continued and global demand was subdued, with export sales shrinking further in August.”
"Although goods producers cited further redundancies as having driven the fall in employment, the decrease was the slowest in five months, as output expectations stayed solid. Our current forecast points to a 6.5% decline in industrial production on the year, with output expected to rise 2.9% in 2021. This suggests that any recovery in the manufacturing sector could be drawn out as demand struggles to gain momentum,” Jones added.
31 RUSSIA Country Report September 2020 www.intellinews.com