Consumer prices in Ukraine, after a two months of decline by 0.8-1%, in September started to grow again, with inflation last month reaching 2.3%, the State Statistics Service has reported.

According to the agency, in annual terms, compared to the same month last year inflation slowed down again to 51.9% against 52.8% in August, 55.3% in July, 58.4% in May, and 60.9% in April.

In the first nine months of 2015 consumer prices in Ukraine increased by 41.4%.

The national budget of Ukraine for 2015 is built on the optimistic scenario of development, providing for a fall in GDP of 5.5% with inflation being 26.7%.

At the same time, the IMF has worsened its forecast for GDP decline in the current year to 11%, inflation to 45.8%, while the National Bank forecasts a decline in GDP of 11.6% with inflation being 44-45%.

They also said that the State Statistics Service overestimated the effect of the increase in gas tariffs in April by 4% (the State Statistics Service assessed inflation at 14% in April) and revised the methods of calculating inflation under the recommendations of the IMF mission. The revision will influence the calculation of consumer price index in October and November when the two-rate gas tariff will return.