YEREVAN, January 21. / ARKA /. Russia's 2015 inflation is likely to be at the same level as last year, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said on Wednesday. Consumer prices rose 11.4 percent in annual terms in December.

Ulyukayev also said that he sees inflation reaching 13 percent at the end of this month, or slightly higher.

"We think that we will see inflation peaking in the first quarter," he said.

Ulyukayev said prices of staple foods were rising faster than other prices, by 15.4% last year and by 16% in January when compared to 2013 January. According to him, cereals rose by 30%, sugar – by 25%; prices of pasta, sunflower oil and other basic foods have also risen.

According to preliminary estimates of Rosstat, inflation in Russia last year was 11.4%, well above the official forecast. The official inflation forecast for 2015 is 7.5%.-0-