MOSCOW - The GDP gained 7 percent in Russia in August 2004 against the corresponding period in 2003, Andrey Klepach, the head of the macroeconomic forecasts department of the Russian Economy Ministry, reported to journalists today.

Yesterday, Russian Economy Minister German Gref declared that the GDP increased 7.3 percent in January to August 2004 in comparison to the same period in 2003.

As reported earlier, the Economy Ministry forecasts that GDP growth will be 6.7 to 7.1 percent in 2004. According to the Federal Statistics Service, GDP growth was 7.3 percent last year.