[lbo-talk] Nearly 30 million live below poverty line in Russia - Gref

[Chris Doss]

Aug 5 2004 2:21PM
Nearly 30 million live below poverty line in Russia -
Gref
MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) - As many as 29.8 million
people in Russia live below the poverty line, Economic
Development and Trade Minister German Gref said at a
government meeting on Thursday. 

The percentage of the poorest part of the total
population dropped in the second quarter of the year
to 20.8%, falling from 23% in the same period of 2003,
he said. 

The gap between the richest and poorest 10% has grown
to 15.2 times, compared to 15 times in the same period
last year, Gref said. 

Wages increased by 14.2% and pensions by 6.8% in the
first half of 2004, he said. 

		
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