Living standard up slightly in March

The monthly living minimum in St Petersburg nudged upward to 324,611 roubles ($67) for March, about 2.7% greater than February levels, according to the employment committee of the mayor's office.

The increase of the living minimum -- a government-pronounced minimum living standard used to calculate various state services -- over last month's level was due to a price increase for some key food items, said Alexander Solovyov, head of the labor market department of the mayor's office.

The minimum wage set for men was 400,133 roubles ($83) and 333,789 ($69) for women. The minimum set for pensioners was 228,084 roubles ($47), for children seven to 15, 368,017 ($76), and for children under six, 260,475 roubles ($54).

The living minimum in February was 316,130 roubles ($65), 5% higher than in January.

The average income of St Petersburg residents reached 772,000 roubles ($160) in February, and the unemployment allowance was set at 231,800 roubles ($48) a month.

At the end of March, 58,977 people were registered as unemployed, with 17,680 available working positions in the city. (SPP)


© 1996 St Petersburg Press