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On the release of the Open Budget Survey 2015

15 september 2015

On 10 September, the International Budget Partnership (IBP) released the Open Budget Survey 2015, the fifth of its kind since 2006.

What’s new in the Ministry of Defense statistics

14 september 2015

After eighteen months break, the Russian Ministry of Defense published the official departmental statistics for the years 2014 and 2015 regarding the number of military retirees, provisioned in paragraph 7.1 of the federal statistical work plan. The information was published in the “Open Data” section on the official web site.

Lack of clear sectoral planning hampers innovation development

04 september 2015

Ministry of Economic Development drafted a government resolution aimed at increasing the use of innovations by the state companies.

Stability of the budget system depends on the quality of state government

03 september 2015

The quality of state government and efficiency of budget expenses are becoming dominant domestic factors of the budget system stability, its ability to adjust to risks related to falling prices on hydrocarbons and economic growth slowdown.

Changes to the rules for individuals on reporting to tax authorities of accounts (deposits) with foreign banks outside the Russian Federation

12 august 2015

Today both Russian legal and individuals may open accounts (deposits) with foreign banks outside the Russian Federation.

The Bank of Russia Reduced the Key Rate Despite High Inflationary Expectations

31 july 2015

Last week the Bank of Russia took two important decisions regarding the monetary policy: first, from 28 July onward purchases of foreign currency to replenish international reserves were halted, and, second, from 3 August the key rage was reduced by 0.5 p.p. from 11.50 to 11.00 per cent per annum.

The Lack of Structural Reforms Creates Risks for Economic Stability

22 july 2015

At the end of June 2015, the Russian government approved "Main Directions of the Budgetary Policy for 2016 and for the Planned Period of 2017 and 2019" submitted by the Ministry of Finance.

The Banking Sector Is Teetering on the Verge of Unprofitability

21 july 2015

In early 2015, the volume of the corporate loan market contracted markedly. For January-May 2015, banks provided to legal entities new loans in the volume of Rb 11.9 trillion down 17.5% against January-May 2014 (Rb 14.4 trillion).

Industrial Patience Has Run Out

16 july 2015

According to the data released by the Rosstat, contraction of Russian industrial output in terms of year on year has speeded up from 0.4% in Q1 2015 to 4.9% in Q2 2015. Accelerated contraction was mainly due to the sectors which produce capital goods (mechanical engineering and construction materials) as well as long-term consumer goods.

Draft of Main Directions of the budget policy for 2016-2018 is released

02 july 2015

A draft of the Main Directions of the budget policy for 2015 and the planned period 2017-2018 is uploaded on the Ministry of Finance of Russia on 1 July. It was discussed and approved at the meeting of the government on 25 June.

Civil BRICS Forum proposed recommendations for leaders of countries

01 july 2015

On 29 June – 1 July 2015, Civil BRICS Forum was held in Moscow. Forum became the first innovation project of the kind on BRICS platform implemented within BRICS summit in 2015.

Is Russian finance system resilient to external shocks?

25 june 2015

Main thesis of the Financial Stability Review released by the Bank of Russia states that "the financial system turned out to be resilient to external shocks" and "in the current circumstances repetition of the situation created in December 2014 remains unrealistic..."

The process on cancelling licenses has speeded up notably

24 june 2015

On 24 June, the Bank of Russia took decisions to cancel the licenses of two credit participants: MAST-bank which submitted to the RF CB unreliable reporting and from commercial bank TEST which was involved in carrying out dubious transactions aimed at assets outflow from Russia. Thus, in June the Bank of Russia cancelled the licenses of 10 banks.

Following the results of the PIEF 206 agreements were signed

23 june 2015

In the course of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum a total of 205 agreements, letters of understanding, frame protocols, as well as contracts were signed totaled Rb 293.6 bn.

The Bank of Russia has cut the key rate by 1 p.p.

16 june 2015

On 15 June 2015, the Bank of Russia Board of Directors took a pending decision to reduce the key rate by 1 p.p. from 12.50 to 11.50 percent per annum.

Inequality in the Income of the Population Went Down

09 june 2015

Real disposable money income of the population continue falling. For the first four months of 2015, the real disposable money income of the population fell by 2.2% compared with January–April 2014.