Republic

Belarus establishes new minimum consumer budgets

The minimum consumer budgets for 18 socio-demographic groups of the population in the prices of December 2006 have been established in line with the resolution of the ministry of labor and social protection, head of the socio-labor sphere development department of the ministry of labor and social protection Tamara Rak told BelTA. These norms will be valid from February 1 till April 30 this year. She reminded that in line with the law of the Republic of Belarus “On forming and using the minimum consumer budget” this social norm reflects the expenses on consumer goods and services to satisfy basic physiological and socio-cultural demands of a person. According to Tamara Rak, on February 1 this year the monthly minimum consumer budget per capita will make up Br265, 110 (in November 2006 – January 2007 – it made up Br258, 570). This social norm is the basis to determine is a person has the right for preferential loans and subsidies to construct (reconstruct) or purchase an apartment, renovation works. According to the specialist, the minimum consumer budget of the four-people family upped by 2.5% as against the current norm (the prices for September 2006). Tamara Rak noted, the structure of the minimum consumer budget for the four-people family in the prices of December 2006 is the following: foodstuffs – 47.7%, clothes, footwear, underwear – 19.5%, sanitary articles and medicines – 1.8%, housing and utilities bills – 11.4%, personal services, transport, communication – 8.2%, cultural-educational measures and rest – 2.9%, other payments – 2%.