The income of about 15% of the Russians is lower than the living wage, defined by the Federal State Statistic Service (Rosstat). Herewith during the first half of the year 2011 the number of poor people in Russia has increased 2 million people and has reached the level close to the peak of the crisis.
The situation for the country, where the president will be elected in almost a year, seems to be paradoxical. According to the statistics published by Rosstat on Tuesday, the number of poor people in Russia—those whose income is lower than the living wage—has increased 2 million during the first half of the year 2011, and reached 21.1 million people.
The Rosstat experts explain that the number of poor people in Russia is largely due to the high growth rates of the consumer basket cost. In the second quarter of the year 2010 it was 5625 rubles, this year it is 6505 rubles per person a month.
In comparison with the first quarter of the year 2011 the minimum subsistence level has grown 0.5 %. Herewith the cost of food in the consumer basket has decreased 0.2 %, the cost of non-food goods and services has grown 1.7 % and 0.7 %,–informs Rosstat.
At the same time, according to the Russian Forbes, the number of multi-millionaires in Russia has increased by half. In Russia there are 200 businessmen—multi-millionaires. During the previous years there were about 100 people. The total wealth of 100 most rich people makes $432 milliard.
At the top of the list of the richest Russians there are owners of big metallurgical and oil companies. However, there are also 18 members of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation—10 deputies of the Russian Duma and 8 senators.
Source: www.kommersant.ru