MOSCOW, December 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has surpassed its GDP growth targets in 2005, President Vladimir Putin said Saturday. Putin said the year-end rate of GDP growth had reached 6.4%, 0.5% above the target of 5.9%. The population's real incomes and investment in fixed capital have also increased this year whereas the unemployment rate has gone down, he said.
"All these are absolutely positive tendencies, and they must be sustained."
On the negative side, inflation has risen to 11%, 2.5% above the projected rate, and excessive ruble appreciation has made it harder for domestic producers to compete with foreign counterparts, said the President.
