Page 11 - BELRptDec18

4.2 Inflation
Belarusian consumer prices rose by 0.5% in October m/m and 4.2% since the state of the year , the National Statistics Committee of Belarus reports.
In October 2018 the base index of consumer prices, which does not account for changes in prices for individual goods and services susceptible to administrative and seasonal factors, stood at 100.5% in comparison with September 2018 and 104.1% in comparison with December 2017.
In October 2018 food prices went up by 1% from September 2018 and up by 4.4% in comparison with October 2017. Non-food prices grew by 0.3% from September 2018 and by 3.2% from October 2017. The index of prices for and tariffs on paid services totalled 99.7% as against September 2018 and 108.3% as against October 2017.
Inflation in Belarus is expected not to exceed 5% in 2019 , Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus Pavel Kallaur told the media on 26 November, BelTA has learned. According to Pavel Kallaur, the National Bank will continue the monetary policy it pursued in previous years. “The monetary targeting regime will help secure price stability. Inflation is envisaged under 5%,” he said. Pavel Kallaur noted that the central bank will continue the flexible exchange rate, which enables businesses and the economy as a whole to adapt to internal and external shocks. As it was reported, the consumer price index for goods and services 2018 amounted to 100.5% in October over September, and 104.2% as compared to December 2017. Earlier in October Prime Minister Sergei Rumas stated that the government is set to keep the inflation in 2018 under the projected 6%.
11 BELARUS Country Report December 2018 www.intellinews.com