Growth in individual incomes reported in Russia

The real individual disposable incomes grew by 11.5 percent in Russia in January-April 2004, compared to those in January-April 2003, and the rate of growth in real individual disposable incomes was 8.6 percent in April 2004 against April 2003. The real wage rose by 15.6 percent.

Experts of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry estimate that in total, the real individual disposable incomes will grow by 9 percent in Russia in 2004. This data is given in a report on the monitoring of Russia's social and economic development by the Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

The ministry's report also refers to information from the Statistics Service that the workforce reached 71.9m people in Russia at the end of April 2004. The number of employed people in the economy rose by 0.8m in April 2004 against April 2003, reaching 65.8m. The Economic Development and Trade Ministry estimated the average monthly wage at RUR6,556 ($226.15) in Russia in April 2004. It exceeded the corresponding figure for April 2003 by 27.4 percent.

The total amount of wage arrears reached RUR24bn ($827.87m) in Russia as of May 1, 2004. It had decreased by 7.2 percent compared to the level of April 1 of this year and by 24.5 percent compared to the level of May 1, 2003.