OREANDA-NEWS   Experts predict a temporary slowdown in inflation in Russia to 3 percent in the spring of 2023. The forecast is explained by the effect of a high base in the same period of 2022, Vedomosti writes. Analysts of the Bank of Russia expect similar dynamics.

Representatives of the Central Bank said that in the spring the level of price growth will fall below 4 percent, and by the end of the year it will return to the level of 5-7 percent. Mikhail Zeltser, an expert on the stock market of BCS World of Investments, explained that the slowdown in inflation will provoke a purely technical factor — this spring is unlikely to repeat the panic that began immediately after the start of the special operation in Ukraine. By the end of the year, the expert expects inflation of 7 percent.

According to Denis Popov, the chief analyst of the PSB, annual inflation in the country by the end of the first quarter (by the beginning of April) will fall below 4 percent, and in the second quarter — up to 3 percent. Valery Vaisberg, director of the analytical department of IC Region, admits that in April the indicator will briefly fall below 3 percent, but then it will resume growth. At the same time, at the end of the year, he believes, the price increase will be 6.3 percent.

Natalia Vashchelyuk, Chief analyst at Sovcombank, recalled that in May-December 2022, inflation in Russia decreased due to the strong growth of the ruble exchange rate, lower demand, a good harvest and export restrictions. These values, along with the indicators for the four months of 2023, will be taken into account in the April level of price growth.

The analyst also said that this year the slowdown in price growth will be hindered by the weakening of the ruble, the growth of tariffs of infrastructure and transport companies, as well as the indexation of certain types of costs for relatively high inflation in 2022. By the end of the year, Vashchelyuk expects inflation of 6-8 percent.