MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti) - Inflation in Russia stood at 1.7% in January 2007 compared with 2.4% a year ago, the country's top statistics body said Tuesday.
The Russian government expects inflation to stay within 8% in 2007.
The State Statistics Service said prices of goods edged up 0.7% during January, and prices of paid services provided to the public rose 4.7%. Food prices climbed 0.9%, while food prices excluding vegetable and fruit grew 0.6% and non-food prices increased 0.4%, the statistics service said.
Consumer prices gained 2.2% in Moscow and 1.5% in St. Petersburg during the reporting month, the statistics service said.
The minimum set of foodstuffs increased by an average of 2.2% to 1,506.8 rubles (about $56.8), the statistics service said.
Last year's inflation averaged 9%, down from 10.9% in 2005, according to the statistics service.
