New minimum consumer budget sizes will be in effect in Belarus from August 1

July 29, Minsk /Oksana Shikut - BELTA/. New minimum consumer budget (MCB) sizes for eight socio-demographic population groups will be in effect in Belarus from August 1 to October 31 this year. This was reported to BELTA correspondent by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

The per capita MCB for a family of four will be Br675,980 per month from August 1 this year. The new MCB for a family of four will increase by 28.8%. This is due to the rise in prices for food products and manufactured goods in January-June, as well as the increase in tariffs for household and transport services, preschool and cultural institutions, the department explained.

As a reminder, the per capita MCB for a family of four serves as the basis for determining citizens' eligibility for preferential loans and subsidies for the construction (reconstruction) or acquisition of housing.

The main expenditure items of the per capita MCB for a family of four in June 2011 prices are as follows: food products - 58.9%, clothing, linen, footwear - 15.7%, housing and utility services - 7.1%, household services, transport, communication - 5%, cultural and household goods - 8.3%, cultural and recreational activities and leisure - 1.5%, contributions and payments - 1.5%, sanitary, hygiene items, medicines - 2%.

Per capita MCBs for a young family with one child - Br699,190, for the working-age population - Br858,950, for pensioners - Br671,770, for students - Br623,990, for children under 3 years old - Br513,690, for children aged 3 to 6 years - Br626,260, for children aged 6 to 14 years - Br755,880 have also been approved.

According to specialists, in accordance with the legislation, the minimum consumer budget represents the expenses for purchasing a set of consumer goods and services to meet the basic physiological and socio-cultural needs of a person.

The minimum consumer budget is applied as a social standard for forecasting changes in the living standards of the population, strengthening social support for citizens in need, and forming a system of national economic proportions and priorities that ensure the gradual approximation of citizens' consumption to a scientifically based level.-0-