Yerevan/Mediamax/. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian stated that indirect influence of natural gas price on inflation will make 0.9%.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at the session of the government, Tigran Sargsian stated that by the order of the Armenian President, the leadership of the country made a decision to increase social benefits (by 15%) and pensions (by 11%), which will really neutralize the existing high inflationary pressures.

He said that according to forecasts of the government, at the end of the year the inflation will make 7%, 1% of which will fall on the share of the price of natural gas, “and this is a very high index”.

Tigran Sargsian noted that increase of social benefits by 15% will significantly neutralize negative consequences of the price increase. “Taking into account the fact that starting from November, 2010, the pensions in the country will also be increased by 11%, this means that the Armenian government is able to compensate for the expected negative phenomena as a result of price increase, moreover, the calculations show that in terms of the consumer basket, these measures will contribute to reduction of poverty”, Prime Minister noted.