The National Bank of Moldova anticipates an annual inflation rate of 4.3% for 2013, up 0.2 percentage points compared with the previous forecast made in May, IPN reports.

According to the Bank’s report presented on August 1, in 2014 the average annual inflation rate will be 3.8%, by 0.1 percentage points more than forecast earlier. In the middle of 2015, the inflation will come closer to the target rate of 5%.

As to the risks to the new forecast, National Bank governor Dorin Dragutanu said they are related to the diminution of the economic growth forecast on the foreign markets, especially the EU and Russia, the prices of food products on the international markets and a possible rise in oil prices following tensions in the Middle East.

Dorin Dragutanu said that for the first time in Moldova, the inflation is one-digit, being under 10% the third consecutive year. This creates favorable conditions for the investors’ activity and for obtaining sustainable economic growth.