Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.4 percent in year-on-year terms in March while inflation should slow to 0.4-0.5 percent in April, Deputy Economy Minister Andrei Klepach told reporters on Friday.
"This is good growth, caused by increased investment in the construction industry after a disastrous January and February, as well as by good growth in manufacturing," Klepach said.
GDP grew by 4.4 percent in the first quarter of 2006 in year-on-year terms, a slowdown compared with 5.2 percent growth in the first quarter of 2005.
Russian prices rose by 0.2 percent in the first 17 days of April, Klepach said.
Klepach forecast April inflation will be at 0.4-0.5 percent. Prices rose by 5 percent during the first quarter of 2006 casting doubts on the government's ability to reach its official inflation target of 8.5 percent for 2006.