The 7.3% rate of inflation for 2008, announced by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) is not a credible figure, the economic expert Veaceslav Ionita told Info-Prim Neo in an interview. According to him, the real inflation, as perceived by the citizens of Moldova is at least 13.2%. “Here we are witnessing that inflation is no longer declared by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) but by the Ministry of Economy. There were suspicions that NBS are coordinating their figures with MEC, but now they reached the point where the ministry, which fights the inflation and monitors it, is declaring its figure. All the experts must take a prompt attitude now, because all the possible limits were infringed. When the politicians declare the inflation, the credibility of the figure equals zero”, the expert added. There are two factors which determine the inflation: increase in prices and depreciation of money. “Speaking about price increases, the Consumer Price Index is taken into account, which, according to MEC constitutes 7.3%, a fact which is not credible. Concerning the depreciation of money, we should take into account the fact that 40% of the population’s income is in foreign currency”, Ionita said. “This year, the inflation was concealed and put on the shoulders of the gastarbeiters. People from villages who obtain income in Russia had felt an inflation of 34%”, the economic analyst stated. According to Ionita, there are no instruments for countering inflation in Moldova except for the appreciation of the national currency. “If we take into account the fact that a depreciation of the national currency is expected to occur soon in Moldova, than we may presume that inflation will exceed any limits”, the expert asserted. According to a press release of the Ministry of Economy launched on Wednesday, in 2008 the prices for food increased with an average of 6.5%, although for the main foodstuff such as potatoes, fresh vegetables, plant oil, sugar and wheat flour, the prices decreased due to the good harvest in 2008. The press release also states that other reductions in prices were registered for the following categories of goods: fuel – by 10.7 %, telephones and other communication appliances – 6.5 %. Prices and charges for services provided to the population increased by 17.5 percent. The greatest raises were registered for the services provided for the distribution and supply with heat – 75.9 %, drinking water supply –57.1 %, natural gas supply for home consumption and heating – 28.2 %, passenger transportation –20.1 %, tourism – 34.1 %, the ministry’s press release shows.