6/11/2014: Russia PMIs: Signalling a Poor Start to Q4

Russia's PMI indices out for October 2014 signal further deterioration in growth conditions at the start of Q4.

• Manufacturing PMI barely remained above 50.0 line posting a reading of 50.3 in October, down from the already statistically insignificant 50.4 in September. 3mo MA is now at 50.6, still better than 3mo MA through July (49.7) and 3mo MA through October 2013 (50.2), but all of this is down August reading (51.0). The index is trending well below historical average of 51.8. As a reminder, Manufacturing sector has been posting weak PMIs since around March 2013, with sub-50 readings from November 2013 through June 2014.
• Services PMI fell sharply in October to 47.4 (signalling a sharp contraction) from 50.5 in September. 3mo MA through October is now at 49.4, which signals slower decline in output in the sector than 3mo MA through July (48.5), and stands contrasted by the robust expansion in 3mo through October 2013 (51.9). The index is well below the historical average of 55.7.
• Composite PMI has fallen below 50.0 line for the first time after 4 consecutive monthly readings above 50.0. October reading is at 49.1, down from 50.9 in September. 3mo MA is at 50.4 against previous 3mo MA at 49.5 and 52.0 a year ago.

Chart below illustrates:

As sanctions against banks and corporates bite, Russian companies are aggressively deleveraging out of foreign-listed and intermediated debt. This is cutting back investment and lending activities across both Manufacturing and Services sides of the economy. The October figures are not reflective of the aggressive hikes in interest rates passed through by the Central Bank of Russia (+1.5% to 9%), so we can expect even further deterioration in activity in November. It now appears that, as expected, Q4 2014 will post negative growth in the economy.