Belarusian authorities want to achieve single-digit inflation by 2017

The Belarusian authorities have developed an anti-inflationary programme in order to achieve an unambiguous inflation in 2017. The programme envisages measures that will help to keep inflation at 17% in 2015 and at 12% in 2016. The programme includes the reduction of state funding programmes by BYR 2.2 trillion in 2016, interference with the pricing processes by public authorities, growth of tariffs on natural monopolies services due to BYR exchange rate fluctuations, which will lead to a gradual increase in tariffs for housing and communal services. The programme does not take into account the possible impact of external factors on prices in Belarus, which, amid high dependency on the Russian economy, may lead to the anti-inflationary programme’s fiasco.