Russia

Russia's Central Bank Hikes Interest Rate as Inflation Soars

Russia’s Central Bank on Friday raised its key lending rate to its highest level in more than two years to stem soaring inflation in an overheated economy hit by Western sanctions in response to Moscow's military action in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. The bank raised the rate by 200 basis points to 18.00%, noting that inflation has accelerated and is developing “significantly above” its forecast. “Growth in domestic demand is still outstripping the capabilities to expand the supply of goods and services,” the bank said in a statement.
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U.K. Adds 11 Designations to Russia Sanctions List

Britain added 11 new shipping sanctions under its Russia sanctions regime related to the war in Ukraine, an official notice showed on Thursday, SwissInfo.ch reported. The government said the sanctions on ships including Zaliv Amurskiy and SCF Pechora relate to the carrying of oil or oil products from Russia to a third country. The ships are believed to have the flags of Panama, Gabon and the Cook Islands, the government notice said.
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Putin Signs Bill Increasing Income Taxes for the Wealthy in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday endorsed a bill that raises income taxes for the rich, part of efforts to help fill government coffers during the fighting in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. Putin signed the bill into law two days after it was approved by both houses of parliament. The legislation, which envisages a progressive tax on personal income, is a major change from the flat-rate tax that was widely credited with improving revenue collections after it was introduced in 2001. The new law imposes a 13% tax for incomes of up to 2.4 million rubles ($27,500) a year.
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Russia Central Bank Warns Of Possible Rate Rise

Russia’s central bank Friday left its key interest rate unchanged for the fourth straight meeting, but signaled it may raise borrowing costs to tame a pickup in inflation driven by the diversion of manpower and other resources to sustain the invasion of Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reported. In 2023, with inflation surging, the central bank raised its key interest rate five times before pausing as inflation appeared to cool. But prices have begun to rise more rapidly over recent months as the war entered its third year.
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