MOSCOW, February 9 (Itar-Tass) - Pensions? indexation (adjustment to inflation) in the Russian Federation will most likely be conducted 4 times, not 3, as earlier planned, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the government?s presidium. "I ask the Finance Ministry to plan allotting corresponding resources for this," he said.

Putin said that three indexations had been planned earlier for 2009 - from March 1 the basic part of pensions was to be increased by 8.7 percent, and from April 5 the insurance part of pensions was planned to be increased by 15.2 percent, but will be increased by 17.5 percent. The next indexation from December 1 is to reach 26.5 percent.

"But maybe it will be increased up to 30 percent," the prime minister did not rule out. "But if the inflation rate is higher than the forecasted parameters, then we from August 1 will have to raise and adjust the pensions," Putin emphasised. "This year we will most likely have to 4 times readjust the pension," according to the prime minister. "I ask the Finance Ministry to plan these resources in the changes to the budget we are now planning," he added.
sections: Economics