Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent last year after 4.2 percent growth in 2010, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Wednesday.
"Last year, we managed to create a good base for rapid development. The GDP grew by 5 percent, as we planned, in contrast to the skeptical forecasts," Azarov said at a government meeting.
He also said salaries in Ukraine expanded 8.5 percent during the period, while inflation was 4.6 percent, the lowest level since Ukraine's independence.
Ukraine's budget deficit stood at 1.7 percent of GDP by the end of 2011, Azarov said, adding direct debt dropped to 27.4 percent of GDP in 2011 from 30 percent in 2010./.