[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Russian finance minister forecasts 2006 inflation at 9%

MOSCOW, February 11 (RIA Novosti)-Russia's finance minister forecast Saturday that the annual rate of inflation would be 9% this year. "Inflation in Russia in 2006 should be 8.5-9% and 7-7.5% in 2007," Alexei Kudrin told a news conference following a meeting of finance ministers from the world's most industrialized countries.

Kudrin also said that the prices for natural gas in Russia would rise by 11% in 2006 and by 9% in 2007.

On Friday, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry adjusted its inflation forecasts for 2006 by raising the figure from 7.5-8% to 8-9% in light of growing oil prices.