Russia’s Central Bank cuts key rate to 2014 level

Russia’s Central Bank slashed its key interest rate by 0.5 percentage points to 8.5% per annum, the regulator said in a statement on Friday, TASS reports.

"On 15 September 2017, the Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to cut the key rate by 50 b.p. to 8.50% per annum," the statement said. The Bank of Russia noted that inflation is close to 4% while the economy keeps growing. During the next two quarters, the regulator "deems it possible to cut the key rate further," the report said. Bank of Russia admits possibility for further cut of key rate in the next two quarters.

Meanwhile, medium-term risks of inflation overshooting 4% dominate over the risk of its steady downward deviation from the target, the Central Bank said. "In order to maintain inflation close to the 4%, the Bank of Russia will continue to conduct moderately tight monetary policy," the report said.

"While making its decision hereinafter, the Bank of Russia will assess the risks of inflation’s material and sustainable deviation from the target, as well as consumer price movements and economic activity against the forecast," the regulator said.

"Fluctuations of food prices will remain the source of inflation volatility over the next six months. Food price dynamics will depend on the quality and preserved volumes of the harvest. Short-term food market factors might trigger temporary deviation of inflation (both upward and downward) from the 4%, which, however, will not persist," the statement said.