The CBR decided to reduce the key rate by 0, 25 percentage points, To 7, 5% annual, follows from a press release of the regulator. This is the first reduction this year. Before the decision, the Central Bank kept the intrigue, not giving clear signals. However, it was stated that the option of lowering among other not excluded. last week the head of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina said that the regulator assesses his policy as moderately hard. The neutral rate, in Its expressions, is placed at the level of 6-7%. the vast majority polled Last news analysts had predicted a decrease, indicating that inflation has passed its own peak in March and April slowed down. Other Experts conceded that the regulator will postpone the reduction in the third-fourth quarters because of the risks of weakening of the ruble amid falling oil prices. However, they noted that the objective rules to reduce the " long overdue ". in the past year, the Central Bank twice reduced twice and increased rate, the increase was the first time since 2014. Industry experts have attributed This to the sharp weakening of the ruble, increasing inflation risk and the pressure of the sanctions. These increases were enough for the limits of the effects of single factors preinflation, told CBR in an April report. The key rate is the minimum interest rate at which the Central Bank provides loans to commercial banks for a week and which is ready to accept deposits. Its size affects the rate of inflation. CBR has introduced It as a tool of monetary policy of September 13, 2013. This has been taken during the transition to the regime of inflation targeting to increase transparency. <span style="color:darkgray