13 Oct 2010 12:18

Russian budget deficit won't top 3.5% of GDP in 2010

MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Russia's budget deficit will not exceed 3.5% of GDP this year, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia Alexei Ulyukayev said Wednesday.

"I will be very surprised if the budget deficit is more than 3.5%," Ulyukayev said at the Gaidar readings. He said he had offered the view this spring at a Finance Ministry meeting that he'd be seriously surprised if the deficit topped 5% of GDP.

Russia's economy will expand more than 4% this year, as net exports increase, consumer demand grows, and lending increases, which will support the rate at which investment in the economy rises, he said.