BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
26/03/2008
Belarus Q1 inflation forecast at 3.7%
MINSK. March 26 (Interfax) - Consumer prices in Belarus will rise 3.7% in January-March 2008, Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko said at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
"Inflation in Belarus in the first quarter will total 3.7%. Inflation for all of March will be 0.5%. It was 0.3% in the first 20 days of March," Zaichenko said.
Consumer prices rose 0.7% in February on top of a 2.5% increase in January. "Because the inflationary risk persists due to external factors, the government at the beginning of the year approved the required precautionary measures, but the goal of achieving the annual target of 8% remains a source of tension," Zaichenko said.
The government and the National Bank plan to keep inflation to 6%-8% in 2008, or 0.5%-0.6% a month on average, according to the socioeconomic development forecast for Belarus.
Inflation in 2007 was 12.1% compared with the forecast 6%-8%. Inflation in 2006 was 6.6%.
Source:
http://www.interfax.com/3/378146/news.aspx
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