KIEV, Dec. 10 2009 – Ukraine's economic growth will probably slow down this year will be in negative territory next year, Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn said Wednesday.

The ministry expects a 5% drop in GDP and 9.5% inflation in 2009, Danylyshyn said.

"We're planning [GDP] to be minus 5%... The calculated [inflation] index will be around 9.5%", he said.

The minister also noted that peak of the drop in the metal industry passed at the end of November this year.