MOSCOW, August 31 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has taken the lead among developed countries in GDP growth, industrial production, and household consumption, a Russian statistics agency said Wednesday. The Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) released its figures, based on information from the IMF, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and statistics agencies of the related countries. Russia's GDP in the first quarter of 2005 grew 5.2% year-on-year, compared with a 2.7% growth in Britain, 3.3% in Canada, 2.8% in the U.S., 1.9% in France, and 0.8% in Japan. Germany and Italy's GDP fell by 0.3% and 0.2% respectively in the same period.
Russia's industrial production in the first half year of 2005 grew 4% year-on-year, in Britain - 0.1%, in Germany - 2.1%, in Canada - 3.2%, in the U.S. - 2.9%, in France - 1.1%, and 1% in Japan, whereas industrial production in Italy decreased by 0.3%.
Household consumption (in fixed prices) in Russia in the first quarter of 2005 grew 8.1% year-on-year, compared with a 2% growth in Britain, 0.1% in Germany, 0.3% in Italy, 3.9% in Canada, 3.6% in the U.S., 2.2% in France, and 0.8% in Japan.
Inflation in Russia in June 2005 was 13.7%, in Britain - 2%, in Germany - 1.8%, in Italy - 1.8%, in Canada - 1.7%, in the U.S. - 2.5%, and 1.7% in France, whereas Japan reported deflation at 0.5%.
Unemployment in Russia in June 2005 was 7% of the total employable, 4.7% in Britain, 12.6% in Germany, 7.9% in Italy, 6.7% in Canada, 5% in the U.S., 10.1% in France, and 4.2% in Japan.
