MOSCOW, September 25 (RIA Novosti) - The International Monetary Fund is keeping its Russia 2008 inflation forecast at 13.8%, Paul Tomsen, the head of the IMF mission in Russia, said Thursday.
Russian authorities have predicted inflation of 11.8%, but some officials said consumer prices could grow by more than 12%.
In the January 1-September 22, 2008 period in Russia, inflation was 10.2%.
Tomsen also said the IMF had lowered its forecast for Russian GDP in 2008 to 7.1% from 7.8%.
The Russian financial system is currently experiencing a slump, believed to be caused by a crisis on U.S. financial markets.
