Russia’s central bank said on Wednesday that its business climate index remained in the positive range for the second month running in August; with future expectations improving as businesses see overall risks easing and growth in costs slowing.
While the future outlook was positive, assessments of the current business climate fell, according to a central bank.
“Negative assessments in production have increased due to continued demand constraints and problems; with import supplies and a labour shortage,” the central bank said in a report.
Russian companies took a hit from unprecedented western sanctions that followed Russia’s move to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24.