According to the Government estimates real GDP grew by 2.4% yoy in July 2013 due to good harvest and continued retail trade growth. Decline in industrial output against the background of weak domestic and external demand likely aggravated in August by trade frictions with Russia.
On external side, real GDP grew in the USA, the EU and Japan in the second quarter of 2013, while leading indicators also pointed to recovery. At the same time, emerging market economies slowed down, while high interest rates in the US led to capital outflows from these economies.
Weak fiscal revenues increased fiscal pressure, which might be exacerbated by high interest rates on external borrowings.