- Russia reported a 0.2 percent GDP contraction in the first quarter of 2026 marking its first quarterly decline in three years
- The national budget deficit soared to 60 billion dollars in the first three months of 2026 exceeding the forecast for the entire year
- Official growth projections for 2026 were slashed from 1.3 percent down to 0.4 percent as labor shortages and inflation impact non-military sectors
- Small business profitability has plummeted with nearly two-thirds of firms reporting no profit in early 2026 according to the Chamber of Commerce
- President Putin claimed economic growth returned in March despite the overall quarterly downturn and mounting pressure from international sanctions
Russia economy faces first quarterly contraction in three years amid war strain
May 15, 2026, 9:40:06 PM UTC(4 hours ago)
Impact: High
Affected Assets
Sources
From:@YahooFinance
The contraction is a setback for President Vladimir Putin’s demand for continued growth as he pursues the war in Ukraine. https://t.co/mLAKqXSyef https://t.co/cRK03BbOLR
