Statistics Committee head comments on zero inflation rate

The zero inflation rate at the beginning of September is attributed to aseasonal decline in prices for agricultural products, head of the RussianState Statistics Committee Vladimir Sokolin stated to journalistscommenting on today's report of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov.According to him, such seasonal decrease is always registered at the end ofthe year and compensates for a slight growth of prices for services. Thehead of the State Statistics Committee accepts the possibility that the'zero-inflation-rate' trend will continue this September. A decline in theinflation rate testifies to the increase in incomes of Russian citizens,Sokolin believes. At today's governmental meeting, Kasyanov reported that in the eight monthsof 2002, the inflation rate had reached 9.9 percent, coming to 0 percent inthe first ten days of September. In the opinion of the Prime Minister, ifsuch growth rate is preserved, citizens' incomes could be increased by 7percent..