ISTANBUL, October 10. /TASS/. Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev did not rule out Russia’s GDP dynamics would be more positive than the projected decline of 0.6%.
"I expectations that Russia's GDP will be slightly better in 2016 and 2017 as well," he said.
"As for the Q4 we expect to see a slight growth in annual terms - by the Q4 of 2016," he said.
Deputy Minister Alexei Vedev said earlier that the Ministry expected recovering growth of the domestic economy would start already in the fourth quarter of 2016.
"Our estimates show the economy adapted to new price corridors relatively to the exchange rate and oil prices on international markets. We expect recovering growth of the economy may start already in the fourth quarter of this year," the official said.
"We estimate GDP yearly dynamics will embark on the positive trend already in the first quarter of 2017," Vedev said.
Inflation
The economy minister also pointed out that inflation in Russia may be lower than 5.8% projected in the adjusted forecast by the end of this year.
"I think (inflation will be - TASS) 5.8% at most, maybe slightly lower," he said.
According to Ulyukayev, accumulated inflation stands at 4.1% as of today and 6.4% compared with the same period last year.
The ministry proposes to adjust tariffs in 2017 on "inflation minus" principle.
"We propose tariffs on "inflation minus" principle, based on the fact that the forecast for inflation is 4% for 2017," he said.
According to Ulyukayev, the Ministry of Economic Development in the updated forecast for 2017-2019 proposes to adjust gas tariffs for industry and population in 2017 at the level no higher than 3%.
"It will be 3% for both industry and population," he said.
The ministry has also proposed to adjust Russian Railways freight rates in 2017 by 4% without subsidies.
"We propose adjustment of 4% regarding Russian Railways. We did not suppose subsidies for Russian Railways for freight traffic," Ulyukayev pointed out.