Kremlin Aware Of Russia's 2.3% GDP Growth In 2018, Analyzing Exceptional Data - Spokesman

The Kremlin has taken note of Russia's GDP statistics for 2018 that were released by the Federal State Statistics Service, which exceeded projections of other government bodies, and is currently analyzing them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, adding that the Kremlin was also examining other sources of information

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th February, 2019) The Kremlin has taken note of Russia's GDP statistics for 2018 that were released by the Federal State Statistics Service, which exceeded projections of other government bodies, and is currently analyzing them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday, adding that the Kremlin was also examining other sources of information.

On Monday, the Federal State Statistics Service said that Russia's GDP grew 2.3 percent in 2018, compared to a 1.6 percent increase a year earlier. The projection exceeded the expectations of both the Russian Economic Development Ministry and the Central Bank.

"This issue, I think, is in charge of the government.

[The statistics service] is a serious organization, let's say, the figure [the 2018 GDP] is certainly based on a thorough analysis ... We have taken note of [the released statistics] and are thoroughly analyzing them. There are also other sources, expert opinions on various development parameters," Peskov indicated.

In late January, the Russian Economic Development Ministry improved its projection for the country's GDP growth in 2018, increasing it from 1.8 percent to 2 percent. The Central Bank, in turn, had said that Russia's GDP growth in 2018 was reaching the upper bound of the estimated 1.5-2 percent increase.