Russian Economy Probably Accelerated in Second Quarter

Russia’s economic growth probably accelerated for the first time in six quarters, suggesting domestic demand is strong enough to help the economy ride out its steepest slowdown in four years.

Gross domestic product expanded 2 percent in the April to June period from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 19 economists in a Bloomberg survey. That compares with the Economy Ministry’s projection for a 1.9 percent increase and exceeds the 1.6 percent advance in the first quarter that beat initial estimates. The Federal Statistics Service in Moscow will publish the data today at 4 p.m.