Inflation could be 5.8%-6% in 2013 - Belousov
HANNOVER. April 8 (Interfax) - Inflation could be 5.8%-6% in Russia for the whole of 2013, while return to the 5%-6% corridor could occur in the third quarter of 2013, said Economic Development Minister Andrei Belousov.
"I think the forecast for inflation for the whole of the year is some 5.8%-6%," he told reporters on Sunday.
He also said that the ministry will keep the forecast for inflation at 5%-6% in the adjusted forecast for socioeconomic development.
"We will keep inflation at around 5%-6%. In preliminary estimate, it can even be below 6% this year," Belousov said.
Inflation could return to the target 5%-6% corridor in the third quarter, because the situation in agriculture is likely to be better than last year, he said.
"Concerning inflation, we are moving slightly ahead of schedule compared to last year. But due to poor harvest last year, inflation picked up pace significantly in the second half. This year, we expect the situation in agriculture to be much better than last year. Therefore, no accelerated price rise is likely to occur. Return to the corridor you are talking about is likely in the second half. I don't think it will be the fourth quarter [as the Central Bank predicts], but, rather, the third quarter," Belousov said.