The annual inflation rate rose to 9.7% from 9.5% in March and February, according to the median estimate of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. “The main driver continues to be food prices,” said Anton Nikitin, chief economist at Renaissance Capital in Moscow. “Given the gasoline shortage in certain parts of Russia, that component will also spur inflation.” Russians see inflation, the fastest among the so-called BRIC countries, as the country’s biggest challenge facing the country.
Source: www.freshplaza.com