OREANDA-NEWS The price expectations of Russian enterprises have been declining for the second month in a row after a long period of noticeable growth, according to an operational report on the results of monitoring companies conducted by the Bank of Russia.

The level, which reached its highest level since May 2022 back in November, dropped to 20.3 points in March after falling from 27.5 to 23.1 points in February, the materials say. Thus, the indicator, which is used by the monetary authorities as a leading indicator of changes in the producer price index, has decreased by more than a quarter in two months.

Current estimates of business price expectations, which increased slightly at the end of winter, fell by a third this time, to 14.5 points. At the same time, the consolidated business climate indicator, which the Central Bank uses to assess economic activity, decreased slightly, amounting to 4.8 points against the February estimate of 5.4.

Data on inflation expectations of the population is also expected to be published later on Wednesday. The statistics are presented before the announcement of the Central Bank's decision on the key rate scheduled for March 21, which, most analysts believe, will remain at 21 percent per annum again.