KIEV, April 4 - Ukraine's GDP growth in 2008 will be 6.6% and inflation 15.2%, according to experts of Kiev-based Erste Bank.

"From H2, the pace of inflation will slow. Our forecast for 2008 is 15.2%," said bank analyst Viktor Stefanishyn while introducing a survey drawn up by Erste Bank of the economic situation in Ukraine.

The bank's experts said that by the middle of the year, inflation in Ukraine would exceed 20%, and by the end of the year it would start falling. Among key factors fueling inflation growth are the increase in the prices of oil and natural gas, the increase in the prices of foodstuffs, and the weakening of the dollar exchange rate.