The Real Sector of the Economy in April 2014: Factors & Trends

Abstract

In April 2014, the economic situation was determined both by slowdown of growth rates of consumer demand and a drop in investment demand. Investments in capital assets in April 2014 and January-April amounted to 97.3% and 95.7%, respectively, against the respective indices of the previous year. A decrease in growth rates of retail trade sales volumes year on year to 2.6% was determined by dramatic slowdown of households’ real income and real wages and salaries. After a drop in January, year on year indices of industry demonstrated growth in February-April 2014. In April 2014, year on year growth rates of industrial production amounted to 2.4%, while in manufacturing and production of primary products, to 3.9% and 1.7%, respectively. However, despite the fact that the situation has improved to some extent the expected growth in industry in 2014 will amount by the estimate of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation to 1.0%, which is justified by the expected 2.4% drop in investment activities in 2014.