Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin signaled on Wednesday an end to recession, announcing that the country's economy was expected to grow more than 2% in October-December 2009.

"In the fourth quarter, we expect growth, and even the [GDP] growth rates will slightly increase and equal more than 2%. This means that we have exited the recession and a reversal from decline to growth has begun to be seen," Kudrin told the lower house of Russia's parliament.

Under the 2010 budget and basic budget parameters for 2011-2012, Russia's GDP is expected to grow 1.6% in 2010, 3.0% in 2011 and 4.3% in 2012.

Kudrin said that as of November 1, 2009 the government had spent 900 billion rubles ($30 billion) on anti-crisis measures out of 1.393 trillion rubles ($46 billion) earmarked for the purpose in the budget.

Meanwhile, Russia's Economic Development Ministry said on Wednesday it had improved its economic forecast for 2009, with the country's GDP expected to decline 8.5% compared with the previous figure of 8.5-8.7%, investment to fall 17.6% against the previous figure of 20% and retail trade to shrink 5.7% compared with 6%.

Andrei Klepach, deputy economic development minister, said the ministry had kept its 2009 forecast on industrial output decline at 11.5% but said this decline could be smaller at 11%.

The ministry also lowered its inflation forecast for 2010 from 9-10% to 6.5-7.5%. This year, Russia's consumer prices are expected to grow 8.8-9%.

MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti)