Cabinet forecast for GDP growth in 2016 by 2% with 9% inflation coincides with IMF view - Jaresko
The Cabinet of Ministers, in its draft budget resolution for 2016, has stipulated the forecast for real GDP growth by 2% with inflation (December to December) at 9%, producer prices will increase by 12% and the average hryvnia to U.S. dollar exchange will be UAH 22.5 per $1, and the IMF agrees with such figures, Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko has said.
"The macroeconomic forecast coincides with the one the IMF drafted in June. I did not fabulate [sic] this," she said, while responding in the parliament to criticism of their alleged unrealistic forecast.
Jaresko stressed she cannot currently give other forward-looking figures, in particular the level of debt or social standards, as negotiations on debt restructuring are continuing and the situation is changing too fast. According to her, it is difficult to predict "what will happen in two or three months."
"This is the best forecast we can give at the moment," she said.
Previously, at the fourth Swedish-Ukrainian Business Forum, she found it difficult to name the forecast for GDP growth dynamics for the current year.
"Someone says the fall will be 9%, someone says - more," Jaresko said.
As a result, the Verkhovna Rada sent a draft resolution on the main directions of budgetary policy for 2016 (the budget resolution) to the committee for revision.
