Up-to-date statistics indicate a gradual easing of price pressure, Zoya Kuzmina, Economic Advisor to the Bank of Russia's Monetary Policy Department, announced in a speech to journalists in Irkutsk.

According to her, price growth peaked in the first weeks of January, after which it began to slow. Weekly indicators demonstrated a more stable trajectory in the second half of the month and in February. However, she emphasized that these are up-to-date data, which may be updated as statistics for February and March accumulate.

The regulator's representative noted that the impact of certain factors, including tax changes, may manifest itself over a prolonged period. Therefore, it is premature to draw definitive conclusions about the extent of their impact on inflation.

At the same time, the Central Bank's recent decision to lower the key rate reflects confidence that actual price dynamics, especially excluding the effect of VAT, are generally in line with the regulator's forecasts. The Central Bank believes that further developments in the situation will require further analysis, but current signals appear encouraging.