German Gref said the April rates were over a percentage point lower than in the same period last year.
"Consequently, experts' pessimistic forecasts [that inflation for the whole of 2006 would be] 12-13% were premature," he added.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade forecasts 5.4-5.6% inflation in January-April, against an official figure for the whole of 2005 of 10.9%.
"During the first half of April, price growth remained low [0.2%], and estimates say April price growth will be slower than in March," the ministry said earlier.
The government's official development program for 2006-2008 fixed the inflation target for 2006 at a maximum 8.5%.
The Central Bank forecasts 2006 inflation at 8.5%, and although consumer prices grew 5% in Q1, the Central Bank hopes its forecast will be met.
The Finance Ministry forecasts 2006 inflation will stand at a maximum 10%, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry at 9%, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at 10.5%.
The economics ministry estimates the ruble's growth against the dollar in real terms during the first four months of 2006 at 7.8-7.9%, and at around 6% against the euro, while the real effective rate is slated to grow 5.4-5.6%.
The real effective ruble rate is calculated by the Central Bank using a basket of currencies of Russia's main trade partners. The figure grew 10.5% in 2005.
