. The CBR decided to increase the key rate by 0, 25 percentage points - up to 7, 75% annual, follows from a press release of the regulator. This is the second increase this year. at the beginning of the year, the Central Bank twice cut the rate by 0 25 percentage points, then took a break for a few months. in September - the first time since 2014 the regulator has reached the conclusion about the increase. The rate rose to 7, 5% per annum. It was on the background of a sharp weakening of the ruble, rising inflation risks and sanctions pressure. The current - second - raise is preemptive in nature, commented on the Bank of Russia. It is aimed at limiting inflationary risks. The regulator's decision coincided with the opinion of the majority polled Last news analysts. They argued that a Central Bank acts proactively, for this reason can increase the bet already now, without waiting for a significant acceleration of price increases. Among other factors, speaking in favor of the increase, experts were called the volatility of oil prices, the risk of collapse of the ruble after the resumption of Central Bank purchases of foreign currency for the Ministry of Finance (which is Also planned for the following year), sanctions risks and the strengthening of the dollar. at the end of November the head of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina said that the Central Bank on 14 December to consider the possibility of both retaining and increasing key interest rate. Then she also said that the regulator makes a Decision on the key rate based on three-year forecast, based on long-term factors. The key Rate is the minimum interest Rate at which the Central Bank provides loans to commercial banks for a week. This is also the maximum Rate at which the regulator is willing to accept from credit institutions deposits. Its size affects the rate of inflation. The CBR introduced a key rate as a tool monetary policy on 13 September 2013. This has been taken during the transition To the inflation targeting regime in order to increase transparency. For fifteen years the Rate has varied. Two years earlier, it amounted to 11% per annum. By September 2016 fell by a cent and a year earlier was 9, 75 percent. <span style="color:darkgray