Surely each of us at least once heard the words "minimum consumer basket" and "cost of living." Many people know that they are repelled by these indicators when calculating subsidies and payments. But not everyone knows what is included in the cost of living, and what a consumer basket is made of.
The minimum consumer basket includes not only food, as it might seem at first glance, but also a number of non-food goods, as well as services. School-written goods, shoes, hats, electricity, transportation services, basic necessities and much more - that’s what is included in the consumer basket. It regulates the amount and time of food consumed separately for children, separately for adult working people, separately for senior citizens.
For example, it is estimated that an able-bodied person should consume 133.7 kg of bread, cereals and pasta per year. The same indicator for a child is 84 kg.
In addition to flour, this list includes potatoes, vegetables and fruits, confectionery and sugar, butter and vegetable oil, meat, dairy and seafood, eggs, salt, spices and tea. As you can see, the list is quite complete and the menu is quite diverse. Another thing is that the number of products is poor. For example, an adult is entitled to only 23 kg of fruit per year - approximately 600 grams. for 10 days. Or take the same sugar with confectionery. It is believed 22.2 kg per year, which corresponds to 60 grams. per day - two tablespoons of sugar or a tablespoon of sugar and a couple of cookies. Of course, talking with such figures about decent living is not necessary.
Approximately the same picture in non-food products. An adult able-bodied person is entitled to 3 things from the upper coat group (which include coats, jackets, fur coats) for 7.6 years. And 5 pairs of tights, stockings or socks per year.
What is included in the cost of living and how is it related to the consumer basket? In fact, the cost of living - this is the consumer basket, expressed in monetary terms. Somewhere, milk costs 30 rubles, somewhere 50. Based on the real prices of products and services in each region, the size of the minimum living wage is derived. In total, 33 items of food, 85 items of family and individual goods and services are all that are included in the cost of living.
For some, the fact that the largest cost of living is not in the capital and St. Petersburg, but in the Chukchi and Nenets Autonomous Districts and the Kamchatka Territory will probably be unexpected. This is due to the high level of prices for the most necessary products. Conversely, the lowest is in the southern regions, where the prices of fruits and vegetables are lower.
Why is it important to know what is included in the cost of living and what size is it? Poor families in which per capita income is lower than this indicator can apply for subsidies for housing, utilities, and are entitled to receive targeted assistance. Moms on maternity leave, whose income does not reach this minimum, can receive free food for the baby, as well as small financial assistance from the state.
It is no secret that it is included in the cost of living and utilities, central heating, as well as utilities. True, according to calculations, 18 sq. M. Relies on one person in a family. m. of the total area of the apartment. Of course, if people live in a family of 2-3 people in a one-room apartment, each will have 18 squares or even less. But the elderly and lonely, living in apartments of 35-36 square meters. meters is difficult, since the real costs of utility bills will be significantly higher than calculated.
In general, the amount of the subsistence minimum determines how much money a person needs to meet his minimum needs.