Financial News: Russia Manufacturing Downturn Eases Further

Russia Manufacturing Downturn Eases Further

03/02/2026 - 03:21:00 (RTTNews)

(RTTNews) - Russia's factory activity deteriorated at the slowest pace in nine months amid broad stabilization in new orders after an 8-month sequence of contraction, survey results from S&P Global showed on Monday.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index, or PMI, rose slightly to 49.5 in February from 49.4 in January. However, any reading below 50 indicates contraction.

Output fell at the slowest pace in the current 12-month sequence of decline. Meanwhile, new orders broadly stabilized in February as some firms highlighted greater client interest, although there were subdued demand conditions overall. Nonetheless, new export orders fell at a faster rate.

Lower production requirements forced firms to reduce input buying at the quickest pace in four months, and they also cut employment levels, with the rate of job shedding accelerating to the sharpest since June 2025.

On the price front, both input and output price inflation moderated in February, following substantial increases in each amid a hike in VAT in January.

Looking ahead, business confidence decreased to one of the lowest in over three-and-a-half years as output expectations were weighed by challenging business conditions.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Market News provided by RTTNews

RECENT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL NEWS

Luxembourg Jobless Rate Remains Stable At 6.3% (46 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Luxembourg's unemployment rate held steady in February, the latest figures from th ...Full Story»

Croatia Jobless Rate Falls To 4.7% (24 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Croatia's unemployment rate decreased for the first time in six months in February ...Full Story»

Italy Current Account Deficit Narrows In January (51 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Italy's current account deficit decreased in January from the previous year, the B ...Full Story»

Russia Central Bank Cuts Rate By 50 Bps (49 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Russia's central bank cuts its interest rate for the second straight time this yea ...Full Story»

Hong Kong Inflation Climbs To 9-month High (18 min(s), 51 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Hong Kong's consumer price inflation increased in February to the highest level in ...Full Story»

Italy Trade Balance Swings To Surplus In January (34 min(s), 09 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - Italy's trade balance turned to a surplus in January from a deficit in the previou ...Full Story»

Eurozone Trade Balance Swings To Deficit (36 min(s), 09 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The euro area trade balance swung into deficit in January largely due to the fall in e ...Full Story»

Eurozone Current Account Surplus Highest Since Mid 2024 (01 hr(s), 02 min(s), 09 sec(s) ago)
(RTTNews) - The euro area current account surplus increased in January to the highest level since ...Full Story»