Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that a number of economic indicators show that Russia's recession has ended, but the crisis is not over yet, news agencies reported.
Putin cited the official forecast of gross domestic product growth at 3.1 percent in 2010, the preliminary results of industrial output growth of 5.8 percent and real disposable income growth of 7.4 percent in the first quarter.
"All this allows us to say that the recession in our economy has ended," Putin said in an annual report to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament. "It doesn't mean the crisis is over."
Noting positive results in 2009 from various sectors, such as agriculture, the military and the auto industry, Putin said the government would continue to support Russian industries.
"We will continue using selective anti-crisis measures as long as they are on the agenda," Putin said. "For instance, we will continue supporting the housing market and automobile industry."
Putin also pinpointed macroeconomic stability as pivotal to the country's economic growth.
"The basic conditions for future development are responsible macroeconomic policies and a balanced budget," Putin said. "We can't afford to live with a constant budget deficit of 6 percent (of GDP). Otherwise, we'll find ourselves in a debt trap."/.