MOSCOW, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Russian consumer prices rose by 1.62% in January compared to 0.32% in December following a hike in value-added tax, statistical data showed on Friday. Annual inflation in January stood at 6.0%, up from 5.59% a month earlier. The central bank had cut its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 15.5% on Friday but raised its inflation forecast for 2026 to 4.5%–5.5% from 4.0%-5.0%, above its 4% target. The government raised the rate of VAT by 2 percentage points to 22% this year in order to boost revenues and compensate for increased military spending and falling oil and gas revenues. Rosstat gave the following details: RUSSIAN CPI Jan 26 Dec 25 Jan 25 Mth/mth pct change +1.62 +0.32 +1.23 - food +1.95 +0.43 +1.33 - non-food +0.61 +0.34 +0.42 - services +2.33 +0.15 +2.07 Y/Y pct change +6.00 +5.59 +9.92 Core CPI y/y pct change +5.43 +5.44 +9.32 NOTE - For key Russian indicators click here. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
