KIEV, Nov. 14 ??“ Inflation next year is likely to exceed the 7.5% forecast by the government, and GDP growth of 6.5% is very optimistic, according to the National Bank of Ukraine's head of the bank regulation, surveillance and financial monitoring department, and former State Tax Administration Chairman Oleksandr Kireyev.

"The 6.5% GDP growth forecast by the government is a very optimistic figure. Taking into account the increase in the prices of gas and municipal services, the pace of GDP growth will be slower, and inflation of 7.5% is unlikely in 2007," Kireyev said in an interview with the weekly Kontrakty newspaper.