Eastern Europe / Data
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Belarus reports 3.7% y/y GDP growth in January-September
Belarus' GDP grew by 3.7% year-on-year in January-September following the same growth in January-August (and a 4.4% y/y growth in January-July), according to the national statistics agency Belstat.
IMF ranks Ukraine as Europe's poorest country
With per capita GDP in current prices in US dollar terms of $2,964.193 Ukraine is Europe's poorest country
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Russia's industrial output growth slows further in September
Russia's industrial output growth continued to slow in September 2018, down to 2.1% year-on-year from 2.7%
Growing Fx/gold reserves to $500bn no priority for Russia's CBR
The goal of increasing Russia’s gross international reserves (GIR) to $500bn is not longer a priority for the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), the deputy head of the regulator Xenia Yudaeva told on October 12, as cited by Reuters.
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Russia Inc is more profitable than in 2008 and heading for a record-breaking current account surplus
This year thanks to rising oil prices Russia is on course to turn in a record current account surplus north of $100bn.
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Third rate hike on the cards after Ukraine's consumer prices jump 1.9% m/m in September
Ukraine’s central bank is likely to raise interest rates for the third time this year at its monetary policy meeting later this month after consumer price inflation jumped by 1.9% m/m in September.
Trust in Putin rating plunges to 39% due to unpopular pension reform
A new survey by independent pollster the Levada Center asking which politicians trust the most has seen trust in President Vladimir Putin plunge to 39% in September this year from 59% in November 2017.
Russia's inflation up to 3.4% in September, still in check
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation in Russia in September remained on an upward trend posting 3.4% year-on-year versus 3.1% seen in August and 2.5% in July, according to the data of Rosstat statistics agency.
Ukraine’s international reserves continue to shrink slowly in September
On October 1 reserves amounted to $16.638bn, below the $17bn level for the first time since March 2017 and below the three months of import cover considered necessary to guarantee the stability of the currency.
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Belarus' gold, forex reserves fall to $6.93bn
Belarus' gold and foreign currency reserves fell slightly to $6,926.4mn as of 1 October 2018, if calculated in accordance with methods of the International Monetary Fund, BelTA reports citing the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus.
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Russia's manufacturing PMI sector flat in September
Russia's manufacturing sector saw no change with regards to its overall performance in September according to the latest PMI index report, while "overall stagnation did however mask a return to growth of both output and new orders," IHS Markit said
Ukraine industrial output drops 0.5% y/y in August
Ukraine's industrial output dropped 0.5% year-on-year in August following a 2.9% y/y growth in July, the Ukrstat state statistics service reported on September 21.
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Ukraine retail trade increases 5.4% y/y in January-August
Ukraine’s retail sales increased 5.4% year-on-year in real terms in January-August, slowing from 6% growth in January-July, Ukraine’s state statistics service Ukrstat reported on September 20.
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Back to school for Russia's Watcom Shopping index
It's back to school in Russia but the seasonal spike in shopping September 1 brings was subdued this year as the Watcom shopping index continues to fall further behind previous years.
Retail in Russia is recovering on the back of rising incomes and strong non-food sales
Analysts say that the growth in non-food sales is probably temporary and driven by Russians making big purchase before July’s VAT increase plus the fall in the value of the ruble over the summer.
Real incomes of Russians in August decreased for the first time since early 2018
Real incomes of Russians in August decreased for the first time since early 2018, falling by 0.7% m/m compared to July, Rosstat reports
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Ukraine central bank urges tighter monetary policy
Members of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU)'s monetary policy committee unanimously agreed on the need to hike the regulator' key policy rate by 0.5 percentage points (pp) to 18% earlier this month, citing increased external risks
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Belarus central bank keep key rate unchanged
The National Bank of Belarus (NBB) will keep its key refinancing rate unchanged at to 10%, the regulator said in a statement published on September 19.