It is reported by TASS with reference to the report of the department "Picture of business activity. April 2019.
“Against the background of the increase in the base rate of VAT and the acceleration of inflation, the greatest contribution to the slowdown in GDP growth was made by the reduction in trade turnover in real terms,” the ministry said.
It is specified that the main positive contribution to the GDP growth rate in January-March was made by industrial production and the transport and logistics complex.
The ministry points out that the country's GDP growth in March 2019 was 0.6% in annual terms, after 1.4% in February and 0.6% in January.
Earlier, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia told about the level of inflation expected in the country by the end of the year.