Economy Ministry posts GDP figures

According to the Russian Economy Ministry's report devoted to Russia'ssocial and economic development, the country's gross domestic productadvanced by 4 percent in the period from January to July 2002, compared tothe corresponding period of last year. In the period from January to July2001 the growth in the GDP was 5.1 percent, compared to 2000, the pressservice of the Economy Ministry told RBC. The GDP surged by 5.3 percent inJuly 2002, compared to July 2001. In June 2002 the advance in the country'sGDP was 4 percent, compared to the corresponding period of last year. As itwas reported earlier, according to estimations of the Economy Ministry, thegrowth in the country's GDP is expected to be 3.8 percent this year.According to the State Statistics Committee's earlier reports, the growthin five basic sectors of the Russian economy (industry, construction,agriculture, transport and retail sales) was 4.1 percent in the period fromJanuary to July 2002, compared to the period from January to July 2001. Theproduction index of these five sectors in July was 106.4 percent, comparedto July 2002, and 106.6 percent, compared to June 2002. .