Russia’s GDP Falls in Early 2026 as Growth Model Weakens

Russia's economic slowdown at the start of 2026 was partly driven by seasonal and weather-related factors, President Vladimir Putin said, according to TASS. He noted that January had two fewer working days than the same period in 2025, while February had one fewer. These calendar differences, along with weather conditions, affected GDP dynamics. In January, Russia's economy contracted by 2.1 percent year-on-year. The decline continued in February, with GDP falling by a further 1.5 percent.