MOSCOW, November 16 (RIA Novosti) - If housing utility prices grow by more than 20% in 2006, inflation may exceed 8.5%, a senior source in the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.
The source said housing utility price growth in 2005 would be 33%, compared to 26% in 2004. "In 9M05, housing and communal services tariffs grew 31%," the source said.
Inflation might also be boosted if the Urals crude price exceeds $40 per barrel. "Any of these factors will provide additional inflation," he said.
Keeping 2006 inflation at 8.5% would be possible through drawing up a three-year prospective financial plan as a basis for the federal budget, he said.
