RUSSIAN INFLATION CONTINUES TO FALL

. Monthly inflation fell in Russia to 1 percent in April, from 1.4 percent in March. This gives an annual rate of 15.2 percent, the lowest 12-month figure since Russian economic reforms started in 1992. (Interfax, April 30) Year-on-year inflation has fallen steadily since autumn 1995, but some skeptics warn of pent-up demand generated by wage and pension arrears and argue that plans to raise rents and utility charges to market levels will push inflation back up.

Kulikov Warns of State Bankruptcy.