OREANDA-NEWS. On 29 July 2009 was announced, that the Belarusian Economy Ministry believes consumer inflation may stay within 11% in 2009, the director of the pricing policy department with the ministry, Igor Fomin, told a news conference.

“I guess we will be able to meet the originally forecast 11% – there are all preconditions for it,” Fomin said.

“Russia has adjusted its annual inflation forecast to 12%-12.5%, and Belarus should follow suit. If Russia reported inflation rate at 7.4% in the first half of 2009, and Belarus logged consumer inflation at a rate of 7.3%, why cannot we stay within 11% this year?” Fomin said.

According to him, the government will be taking measures to curb inflation. “You remember how we responded in early 2009 when we saw price hikes [after the 20% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble]. I guess we will find a common language with entrepreneurs,” Fomin said.

Fomin went on to say that the government is working on socioeconomic forecasts for 2010. “Consumer prices are projected to be rising slower than in 2009, and we have prerequisites for a slower inflation rate, he added.