Budget 2018 to retain social orientation

The country's main financial document will be considered today by Belarusian parliamentarians. Budget 2018 will pass the first reading. Eventually, it should be approved in a week. The document is based on a conservative scenario of external conditions. Deputies avoid excessive optimism, so as not to revise the financial indicators within a year. Thus, GDP growth is defined at a rate of 1.2%. The inflation will not exceed seven and a half points. For the refinancing rate, the bar was set at 11%. Among the priorities are payments for external loans, social expenses and salaries of public sector employees.