Russia's ruble banknotes are seen in this file photo taken on April 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Shi Hao)
The inflation rate is in line with the Russian central bank's December forecast for 2019 annual inflation of 2.9-3.2 percent.
MOSCOW, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The inflation rate in Russia slowed down to 3 percent in 2019 from 4.3 percent in 2018, the country's official statistics service Rosstat said in a statement Friday.
The rate is in line with the Russian central bank's December forecast for 2019 annual inflation of 2.9-3.2 percent and the Economic Development Ministry's forecast of 3.0-3.1 percent published in the same month.
On Dec. 13, the Russian central bank cut its key lending rate by 0.25 percentage point to 6.25 percent, citing lower-than-expected inflation. A good harvest was among the main factors influencing inflation, the central bank said, which contributed to a decline in food prices and an appreciation of the ruble from the start of the year.
Food inflation in Russia was 2.6 percent in December, down from 4.7 percent in December 2018, the Rosstat statement said. ■
