Food prices grow in Russia

The cost of the minimum set of food products was 1,117 rubles (about $36.88) per month on average in Russia at the end of July 2003, the Russian State Statistics Committee reported. It increased by 0.1 percent compared to the end of June 2003 and by 11.1 percent since the beginning of 2003. The most expensive set was in the Chukot autonomous area where it was 3,217 rubles ($106.24), which was a 7.6 percent drop over the previous month. The cheapest set was in Kalmykia, some 883.1 rubles ($29.16), which was a 7.5 percent decline.

In Moscow the minimum set of food products grew by 0.9 percent last month to 1,443 rubles ($47.65). In St. Petersburg it advanced by 0.9 percent to 1,236 rubles ($40.82).