Expert: Devaluation of ruble will lead to 15 percent rise in prices

Another devaluation will lead to a 15 percent increase in consumer prices. BelaPAN agency received this forecast from the analyst of the Belarusian Economic Research and Education Center (BEROC) Dzmitry Kruk.

Dzmitry believes that at the 30 per cent devaluation of the ruble, prices of imported goods could rise by 25-26%. In general, the economist believes that we should expect a 15 percent increase in consumer prices due to the "real financial dollarization."

Kruk said that the prices of many domestic goods without import components or a small part of them are formed in dollars. Accordingly, the demand for them is focused on the dollar price. This leads to the price rise of domestically produced goods happening in proportion to the imported goods, but at a slower pace.

On January 9, by a decision of the National Bank, the currency purchase fee for the population was canceled. On January 8, according to the government decision, the 30-percent currency purchase fee for enterprises was canceled. At the Thursday trading session of the Belarusian Currency and Stock Exchange, the dollar rose immediately by 960 rubles.

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