Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said the country's budget deficit in 2011 may total 3% of GDP, despite an official forecast of 3.6%.
"The budget deficit will drop to around 3% next year," Kudrin told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.
In line with the federal law on budget for the next three years, the 2011 deficit stands at 1.8 trillion rubles ($59.3 billion), or 3.6% of GDP.
Kudrin also said the economic growth will be about 4% and inflation will total 7% next year.
However, the head of Russia's top lender Sberbank, German Gref, said Monday he expects the 2011 inflation at 9% or higher.
MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti)
