ING: Russian inflation slows on restrained tariff indexation

ING: Russian inflation slows on restrained tariff indexation
Russian CPI continued to decelerate in July, and at 4.6% y/y was below consensus / ING Think
By ING Think August 7, 2019

Russian CPI continued to decelerate in July, and at 4.6% y/y was below consensus. However, this positive result was achieved only thanks to services, as last month's semi-annual indexation of tariffs was smaller than in July 2018. A further slowdown in CPI is still possible in 2H19, but food and gasoline prices will be the key watch factor

Russian CPI slowed in July thanks to services segment

The slowdown in the Russian CPI growth from 4.7% y/y in June to 4.6% y/y appears positive at a first glance, as it is below the consensus forecast of 4.7% (and in line with our expectations). However, a closer look at the CPI composition suggests that only the services segment (c. 28% of the total CPI basket) showed deceleration in the growth - from 4.9% y/y in June to 4.5% y/y in July - thanks to a more restrained indexation of communal housing tariffs: by 2.4% in July 2019 vs. 4.0% in July 2018.

Other CPI components failed to show deceleration, as food (c. 38% of the CPI basket) price growth stabilised at 5.5% y/y despite a higher base effect, while non-food CPI growth accelerated from 3.5% y/y in June to 3.6% y/y amid a pick up in gasoline prices from 1.4% y/y to 1.8% y/y, respectively.

Further slowdown possible on agri prices, base effect

For now, the overall CPI performance is not a threat to our 4.0% y/y forecast for year-end 2019, mainly thanks to the food segment that should post a material deceleration in the price growth thanks to the so-far favourable global agri price environment (we've written about that here) and the base effect. Nevertheless, we acknowledge some risk factors that might cause negative surprises:

  • Food CPI may be negatively affected by the recent downgrades in the grain harvest/export expectations for Russia due to the mid-summer deterioration of weather conditions and massive wildfires;
  • The recent acceleration of the gasoline price growth after the agreement between the government and oil majors expired on 1 July may indicate increased risks to the overall CPI growth;
  • The recent RUBstrength, which has been contributing to the disinflationary pressure locally, is now under question following the global risk-off
  • The likely pick up in budget spending growth in 2H19 may remove some of the demand-related disinflationary pressure

August to be the litmus test

The structure of July CPI growth increases the importance of the August numbers. A monthly deflation, which is warranted by seasonality and the recent weekly data, is required to alleviate our concerns regarding the CPI, especially in the agri segment. A lack of deflation in August would arrest the deceleration of the y/y CPI growth rates and may lower the likelihood of a further CBR rate cut on September 6, which so far remains our base case scenario.

This note first appeared on ING’s “Think” portal here.

Content Disclaimer: This publication has been prepared by ING solely for information purposes irrespective of a particular user's means, financial situation or investment objectives. The information does not constitute investment recommendation, and nor is it investment, legal or tax advice or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instrument. Read more

 

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