For the December 2016 consumer prices in Russia rose 0.4%, the message of Rosstat. The growth of food prices was 0.6%, non-food goods and services rose by 0.3%.

By the end of 2016 inflation, according to preliminary estimates of Rosstat, amounted to 5.4% (the figure is a record low in recent history of Russia). While food prices increased by 4.6%, non — food products- by 6.5%, services — by 4.9%.

In the message Rosstat emphasizes that the final data on inflation in December 2016, obtained on the basis of monthly registration of prices on the full range of goods and services (506 species) will be provided on 10 January 2017.

Previously, the Ministry stated that by the end of 2016 inflation will be 5.6%, falling due to a stronger ruble and low consumer demand, below the official forecast of the Ministry.

In accordance with the current forecast of the Bank of Russia, inflation in the country by the end of 2016 should be within the range of 5.5–6%.

During the annual big press conference on December 23, President Vladimir Putin said that by the end of 2016 inflation will fall to a record low.

"Let me remind you that the best record we had in 2011 was 6.1%, this year we will have surely less than six. We thought it would be somewhere in the 5.7–5.8 percent. Most likely it will be somewhere around 5.5%. That is a record low level of inflation", — said the head of state.