The economist allowed a reduction in the key rate to 16.5%

Igor Balynin, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, admitted that the Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia may reduce the key rate from 18% to 16.5% at the next meeting on September 12.

In conversation with aif.ru On Thursday, August 28, economist Balynin noted that the Bank of Russia had lowered its key rate at the previous two meetings, and now its reduction by 1.5 percentage points to 16.5% looks the most likely. He considers it unlikely that the rate will be maintained, since there are no objective grounds for this.

He allowed a reduction of 1 or 2 percentage points, but stressed that these decisions are less likely than a decrease of 1.5 percentage points. The expert ruled out a rate increase, recalling that the regulator has set a course to ease monetary policy.

Balynin added that banks have already taken into account a possible rate cut — in August, interest on deposits continued to fall. At the same time, he noted that it is still possible to find offers at 15-16% for a period of six months or a year: having invested 150 thousand rubles at 16% for a year now, by the end of August 2026, it will be possible to receive about 174 thousand rubles.

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On August 27, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said that lowering the key rate of the Bank of Russia allows the Russian budget to save on subsidiary support. He noted that the support measures are primarily aimed at industries involved in national technological leadership projects and determined by the decisions of the president and the Prime Minister's instructions.

On August 26, private investment consultant Andrey Kochetkov, in an interview with Izvestia, predicted a reduction in the key rate to 17% in September. According to him, such a forecast allows us to make the observed dynamics of inflation in the Russian Federation in the last few weeks.

On August 12, Vasily Koltashov, head of the Center for Political Economic Research, recommended keeping savings in rubles. According to him, the Russian economy is stable and has growth potential, so it is safe to keep savings in the national currency. 360.ru .

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