Sept inflation in Russia zero - Rosstat
MOSCOW. Oct 4 (Interfax) - Inflation in Russia was zero in September after 0.2% deflation in August, the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported on Tuesday.
September 2010 inflation was 0.8% due to drought.
Consumer prices rose 4.7% in January-September this year, versus 6.2% in the same period of last year.
The level of annual inflation by October 1 had decreased to 7.2% from 8.2% at the end of August and 9.0% at the end of July. The historic annual inflation minimum of 5.5% was achieved in July of 2010, and then annual inflation rose until January of this year mainly due to rising food prices resulting from a under-harvest caused by drought.
Analysts had predicted zero September inflation. An Interfax consensus forecast compiled at the end of the month produced a prediction of stabilizing prices.
The base consumer price index, excluding price changes for certain goods, is subject to the influence of administrative and seasonal factor. It was 100.5% in September, 100.4% in August and July, and 100.3% in June. It was 105.1% for January-September, and in annual terms against September of last year - 107.4% (in September 2010 - 101.1%, for January-September - 104.3%, and September 2010 against September 2009 - 105.3%).
Compared to August, in September the pace of price decreases on fruit and vegetable products slowed as expected to 9.8% from 16% in August.
However, price growth for non-food items quickened to 0.7% in September from 0.5% in August.
Housing and utility charges went up 0.1% in September and 11.2% in the nine months.
The biggest increases in the nine months were 15.1% for cold water supplies and waste-water disposal, 13.5% for refuse collection, 13.4% for gas supplies and 12.8% for hot water.
Education charges rose 2.7% in September and 5.23% in the nine months.
Passenger transport fares fell 4% in September but rose 7.6% in the nine months.
