27 May 2004 00:09
Reducing inflation to 3% before 2008 unfeasible - Gref (Part 2)
MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - It is unfeasible to reduce inflation in Russia to 3% a year before 2008, said Russian
Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref.
"This objective could be reached sooner, but not when structural reforms are being pursued," Gref said at a
government meeting on Thursday.
In this period, the normal inflation rate should be 5%-6%, he said.
"After 2008, we can reach the goal of keeping inflation within 3%, but it would be unfeasible to do it
earlier," he said.
Current economic trends in Russia do not give grounds for anticipating such a reduction in inflation, Gref said.
"We already have an inflation forecast for 2006, and it is not 3%," he said.
If the 3% goal is set, it will be necessary to reconsider the price growth forecast for products and services
provided by natural monopolies, Gref said. [RU EUROPE ASIA EEU EMRG ECI PRO POL] va tl
[Interfax] |
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