MOSCOW, February 7 (RIA Novosti) - Inflation in Russia stood at 2.4% in January or 0.2% down from a year earlier, the Federal Statistics Service said Tuesday.
The price of goods increased by 1.3% in January (the price of foodstuffs rose by 2% and the price of non-food products went up by 0.4%), while paid services provided to the public appreciated by 6.2%.
According to the statistics agency, housing and utility charges registered the largest growth in the first month of the year as they rose by 13.8%.
Consumer prices increased by 3.2% in Moscow and by 1.9% in St. Petersburg in January 2006.
The minimum consumer goods basket cost 1,406.7 rubles (about $49.80) in late January in Russia, up 4.3% compared with late December 2005.
