GLOBAL WARMING--and russian economics???

[BILLYFRED0000]

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Anomalously warm winter may lead to lamentable consequences for Russian economy

Front page / Russia / Economics
11.01.2007 Source:



Warm winter in Russia may result in economic decline

In terms of history of modern Russia, the unusually warm winter of 2006-2007 may go down as a record setter for the early 21st century. The warm fall spilled across the first half of December with daily temperatures in Moscow and central parts of Russian exceeding the norm by an average of 10 degrees beat the previous records set during the winters of 1953, 1965, and 1989. Following a lengthy period of extremely high temperatures this winter, weather forecasters at Rosgidromet, the state weather monitoring unit, already started drawing a parallel between the winter’s “abnormality” and similar weather twists recorded 120 years ago.



However, there is more in it than meets the eye. Russia remains one of the most weather-dependent countries of the world. Not unlike the dollar exchange rate and stock indices fluctuations, temperatures may have an impact on the Russian economy. By and large, Russian business community takes a rather cautious stand on the issue. No profit and loss statements relating to this year’s weather anomaly are immediately available. Meanwhile, representatives of the Russian alcohol industry do not seem be shy of making comments on the impact of air temperatures on liquor sales. Russians are traditionally considered steadfast drinkers regardless of weather.