Russia had zero inflation in week, 5.7% YTD - Rosstat
MOSCOW. Oct 31 (Interfax) - Russia had zero inflation in the week October 23-29 for the first time since late August, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said.
Inflation slowed from 0.2% for October 16-22, 0.1% in the week October 9-15 and 0.2% October 2-8.
Consumer prices rose 0.5% since the start of October and 5.7% since the start of the year. They grew 0.4% in the first 29 days of October 2011 and 4.9% for the period January 1-October 29 last year.
Inflation in annual terms slowed to 6.7% as of October 29, 2012 from 6.9% on October 2 and 6.6% at the end of September.
The zero price growth last week was brought about by a slowdown in price growth for bread and gasoline, and a drop in prices for sugar, milk, fruit and vegetables.
The Russian Economic Development Ministry at the beginning of this week revised its October inflation forecast up, to 0.7-0.8% from 0.6-0.7%. Analysts told Interfax in a consensus forecast that they expected 0.7% inflation for the month. Rosstat will publish its official October inflation figures early next week.