Eastern Europe / Data
Russian manufacturing sector PMI goes into the red for the first time since April 2022, posting 48.2
Russia’s economic slowdown continued with the S&P Global manufacturing PMI going into the red for the first time since April 2022, shortly after the war in Ukraine started, posting 48.2, less than the 50 no=change benchmark.
Global cereal production grows faster than populations, says OWID
The world's population has more than doubled over the last 60 years, but global food production has managed to keep up, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
Number of foreign-invested companies in Uzbekistan grows by 340 in February to 15,503
China continues to extend lead in ranking of number of companies foreign investors have set up and backed in Central Asia's second largest economy. Russia second, Turkey third.
European defence industry is the global growth laggard, says Statista
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for increased European defence spending under the ReArm Europe plan, but Europe is trailing the other major arms producers badly.
Putin’s approval rating at 80%, trust remains high
Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to enjoy the trust of 83% of the Russian populace, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation.
78% of women in Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East have ambitions to start a business
Even in war-torn Ukraine, two-thirds of women are considering starting a business as they continue to play a critical role in the wartime economy, says new MasterCard research.
Trust in Zelenskiy jumps to 65% following Trump’s comments, but still trails General Zaluzhnyi
Public trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has jumped to 65%, up from 57% in January, after US President Donald Trump claimed that his popularity was only 4% and called him a “dictator” without legitimacy.
The war in Ukraine has reduced inequality and made Russian society fairer, poll shows
The three-year war in Ukraine has improved the structure of Russian society and reduced social and income inequality, Russians believe for the first time ever, the state-owned Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) found in a recent survey.
Inflation in Russia has probably peaked and rate cuts may start in June, says Rencap
Inflation in Russia has probably peaked, as the annualised preliminary January rate reached 9.9%, says Renaissance Capital, and rate cuts could begin as soon as June, but that will also crash economic growth.
RENCAP: No major surprises as the Central Bank of Russia keeps rates on hold
The decision to maintain the key rate at 21% aligned with the consensus forecast. The regulator's rhetoric turned out to be slightly more hawkish than anticipated at the start of the week as inflation pressures remain.
Russia’s CBR maintains key rate at 21% after putting brakes on lending
The board of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) at the policy meeting of February 14 resolved to keep the key interest rate at 21%. As followed by bne IntelliNews, this is in line with expectations.
EU has continued to buy Russian fertilizer throughout war – Statista
The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) has called for increased economic pressure on Russia as well as secondary sanctions on companies supporting its war efforts in a new report, released February 11.
Surging financial flows in January indicate robust economic growth, says CBR
Surging financial flows in January 2025 suggest Russia’s economy is growing more strongly than recently indicated, the Central Bank of Russia said on February 7.
Have Russia’s prime interests passed peak? CBR lowers rate forecast for 2025 to 20.5%
Has Russia’s prime interest rate peaked? The Central Bank of Russia says analysts have lowered their forecast for interested rates in 2025 to 20.5% in its latest monthly macroeconomic survey of professional economists.
Total Russian car sales up by more than half in 2024
The sale of new passenger cars in Russia was up by 56% in 2024 and grew by another 9% y/y in January.
Russia’s economy defies wave of bankruptcy fears with fastest private sector PMI growth in a year
Russia’s services and manufacturing sectors expanded at their fastest pace in a year in January, driven by improved demand conditions and a sharp rise in new orders, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data from S&P Global.
Most of USAID aid goes to Ukraine
US President Donald Trump has suspended the distribution of aid via USAID. Ukraine is currently its biggest recipient, reports Statista.
Russian manufacturing PMI growth up a robust 53.1 points in January from 50.8 points a month earlier
Russia’s manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in six months in January, driven by a surge in domestic demand and a rise in new orders, according to the latest S&P Global Russia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index data.
Ukraine’s alarming demographics turn on how many refugees return home after the war
Demographic data paint an alarming picture of Ukraine’s collapsing demographics, a problem that will be made worse by the fact that as time passes, fewer and fewer of the some 8mn Ukrainian refugees outside the country are likely to come home.