MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia may have zero inflation in September, an expert with the Russian Economic Development and Trade Ministry said Friday.
"Deflation in September is most unlikely, but we might reach the zero mark," the expert said, adding that it was too early for forecasts.
According to the ministry, deflation in August might run at 0.2%, the expert said. "The official figures have not yet been announced by Rosstat (Russia's statistics service)," he said.
Inflation in Russia was 8.5% in January-July 2005, with consumer prices growing by 0.6% in June and 0.5% in July.
The government has recently announced its target of keeping consumer price growth at 10%-11% by the end of this year, and the Economic Development Ministry forecasted Q4 2005 inflation at 2.5%-2.8%.
