Russian industrial output growth was 1.2% in July 2002

In July 2002 the industrial output growth was 1.2 percent as compared toJune, Head of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade GermanGref said today. He was quoted as saying "this figure in better than theoptimistic forecast". According to the Russian Economy Minister, "it willadd 0.1 percent to the GDP forecast". The Minister pointed out at the endof this year the GDP growth rate could be 3.9 percent instead of theestimated 3.8 percent. .