Belarus remains the leader among the CIS countries and Europe in the growth of consumer prices in February 2012.
According to the National Statistical Committee, inflation in Belarus was 1.5% in February compared to January 2011. Norway with 1% ranks second, followed by Bulgaria and Ireland - 0.9%.
According to the National Statistics Committee, inflation was 0.8% in Hungary in February (compared to January 2012), while in Germany - 0.7%, Turkey and Finland - 0.6%, in Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Estonia - 0.4%, in Slovakia, Ukraine, Czech Republic - 0.2%, in Spain and Latvia - 0.1%.
In February, Belarus occupied the sixth place (1.2%) in the growth of the price index for food and soft drinks. The country was outstripped by Turkey - 2.1%, Hungary - 1.9%, Norway - 1.8%, Bulgaria - 1.6% and Finland - 1.4%.
Belarusian government hopes to keep inflation within 19-22% in 2012, or even at the level of 15-16%, said Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Rumas.