In a recent interview with TASS, Sergey Katyrin, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, highlighted a shift towards caution among businesses as they prepare for the second half of 2026. Katyrin warned that the 'space for mistakes' will diminish, creating a more challenging environment for companies. He noted that the Bank of Russia is forecasting an average key interest rate of 14-14.5% and GDP growth ranging from 0.5-1.5% in a base case scenario. In contrast, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development is projecting a more conservative GDP growth of approximately 0.4%. This economic outlook suggests that businesses will struggle with limited access to affordable financing and a decline in consumer demand, which previously allowed for management miscalculations. Katyrin stressed the need for companies to focus on enhancing their internal turnover, as those with strong access to orders, working capital, and human resources will be better positioned to succeed in this tightening economic landscape.