Central bank forecasts 5 pct 2011 GDP growth

The central bank expects Russia's gross domestic product to grow 5 percent in 2011 compared with the official forecast of 4.2 percent, Central Bank Chairman Sergei Ignatyev said on Wednesday.

"I expected 5 percent GDP growth this year," Ignatyev said, adding that the summer drought caused a fall in output in the country's industry and agriculture and lower transportation volumes, limiting 2010 GDP growth to only 3.8 percent.

"I hope the growth (of GDP) will amount to 5 percent next year," Ignatyev said.

MOSCOW, December 8 (RIA Novosti)