OREANDA-NEWS  The Business Environment Index of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) shows that in January, the share of companies willing to raise sales prices increased from December's 16.5 percent to 25 percent. Vedomosti writes about this.

At the same time, two thirds of the respondents reported that their purchase prices had increased, although only half of the companies had chosen such an answer a month earlier. 12.7 percent of companies noticed an increase in demand in their industry, while 31.3 percent saw a decrease.

130 companies participate in the survey, on the basis of which the index is compiled, of which 80 percent are large, and slightly less than half are from the industrial sector.

The assessment of the business climate in the country has noticeably deteriorated. In December, 14 percent of the survey participants assessed the dynamics positively, while in January it was only 4 percent, which was the lowest level over the past year.

Dmitry Boyko, head of the corporate Business unit at Alfa Capital Management Company, explained the price situation by increasing value added tax (VAT) from 20 to 22 percent, maintaining a high key rate and changing recycling rates. However, he did not rule out that we are talking about the beginning of a new trend to increase prices.

According to Rosstat, inflation in the country from January 1 to January 26 was 1.91 percent. By the end of the year, the Bank of Russia hopes to achieve inflation in the range of 4-5 percent.

Earlier, Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on the financial market, said that he believes in an early reduction in VAT, as President Vladimir Putin spoke about it at the end of December. At the same time, he pointed out that the current tax increase makes it possible to resolve issues of defense capability and investment development, as well as provides funds for fulfilling social obligations.