The central bank has kept the key rate unchanged at 21% per annum.

20th of December. /MEDIA TALK/. On December 20, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation decided to keep the base interest rate at 21%. The regulator believes that the current market situation contributes to the fact that the inflation rate began to decrease and reached the target, despite the rising cost of goods and high domestic demand. There is a slowdown in consumer and corporate lending, enterprises have reduced their production plans and carefully select priority projects for investment.


Photo: ru.freepik.com

The next Central Bank rate meeting is scheduled for February 14, 2025. Until then, the regulator will analyze the need to increase the base rate in the economy, taking into account further changes in lending and inflation. According to the forecasts of the Central Bank, while maintaining the current course of monetary policy, the annual inflation rate will fall to 4.0% by the end of 2026.

As Elvira Nabiullina emphasized, high inflationary expectations of the population additionally affect inflationary processes. In December, the growth of expectations of both citizens and businesses was also influenced by the weakening of the ruble.