Real ruble rate strengthens

According to estimations of the Economy Ministry, the ruble strengthened by3.2 percent in real terms against the dollar in the period from January toJuly 2002, compared to 6.1 percent in the corresponding period of lastyear. The Russian Economy Ministry's report devoted to Russia's social andeconomic development states that the real effective ruble rate hasdecreased by 3 percent since the beginning of the year. According to theCentral Bank's estimations, the real ruble rate strengthened by 2.8 percentin the period from January to July 2002..