MOSCOW, January 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's consumer price index grew by an estimated 9.7% in 2006, The Central Bank of Russia said Friday.
Core inflation in December 2006 was up 7.8% year-on-year, the CBR said.
Last year's inflation aggregated 9%, down from 10.9% in 2005, according to the national statistics service.
A forecast for the country's social and economic development until 2009 prepared by the Finance Ministry projects inflation at 6.5-8% in 2007, 4.5-6% in 2008, and 4-5.5% in 2009.
However, late last year the economics ministry gave higher consumer price growth projections of 7% for 2008 and 6.8% for 2009. According to the ministry, inflation will slow down to 6.5% in 2010.