KIEV, Jan. 8 - The pace of the consumer price rise in Ukraine accelerated to 2.1% in December 2008, compared to 1.5% in November and 1.7% in October, Valeriy Lytvytsky, the National Bank of Ukraine's chief advisor, told Interfax, citing the State Statistics Committee.

Inflation stood at a 22.3% in 2008, a record since the year 2000, when it reached 25.8%, he said.

Sharp growth in budgetary spending was the main factor spurring inflation in December, which finally increased the budget deficit to UAH 9 billion, Lytvytsky said.