05 April 2004 09:45
INFLATION SLOWS TO 0.8% IN MARCH
MOSCOW. April 5 (Interfax) - Russia's inflation slowed to 0.8% in March, compared with 1% in February, the
Federal State Statistics Service said.
Goods prices rose 0.8% in March, as they had in February. Food
prices went up 1.1% (1.1% in February) and nonfood goods rose 0.4%
The basic consumer prices index, excluding short-term price fluctuations of an administrative or social nature, was
100.7% in March, compared with 102.4% at the beginning of the year.
Service charges grew 0.6% in March and 1.6% in February.
Inflation in the first three months was 3.5%, with goods prices up
(0.4%). Prices for fruit and vegetables increased 0.9% (1.1%).
2.8% and services up 6.4%.
The highest inflation was 1.8% in Amur region and 1.5% in Chukotka autonomous district. This was due to increased
service charges of 5.4% and 5.1%, respectively.
Inflation was 0.7% in Moscow (3.4% in the first quarter) and 0.9% in St. Petersburg (3.8%).
The average cost of the minimum food basket was 1,142.3 rubles, up 0.4% from February. The food basket went up 5.7%
in the first quarter. The most expensive food basket was in Chukotka autonomous district and cost 3,601.6 rubles, up
2.8% from February. The lease expensive food basket was in Tatarstan and cost 934.1 rubles, up 0.1%.
In Moscow, the food basket cost 1,411.4 rubles, up 0.7% from February and 2.7% in the first quarter, and in St.
Petersburg, it cost 1,262.7 rubles (0.5% and 4.5%).
Among the non-food goods, the biggest increases in March were for vitamins, window glass, bandages, coal, electric
lamps, clothes, material and footwear. Gasoline remained unchanged.
The highest hike among service charges was for rail transport and averaged 4.3%. Housing and utility prices increased
0.4% in March, compared with 2.8% in February. Housing and utility prices increased 23.7% in the year ending March 2004
and 13.1% in the first quarter of 2004.
[Interfax] |
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