44
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19.
The inflation
rate had been reduced from 18.5%
in September 1988 to 17.8% in 1989 and 2.1% in 1990. In
the seccnd half of 1991, the rate had been reduced to
1.8%.
20.
Over the past three years, there had been a
considerable change in the state's pricing systems. The
price of many goods had been increased by 30% to 50% but,
despite this, the economy had remained stable and the
value of savings in the banks had remained reasonably
constant. This appeared to indicate that the population
seemed to be taking the price increases in their stride.
Questions and Answers Session
21.
A number of questions
were raised after the
briefing. These and the answers given are detailed in
the following paragraphs.
Events in the USSR
22.
China?
Will the current situation in the USSR influence