January 25, Minsk /Elena Prus - BELTA/. New minimum consumer budget (MCB) amounts for different socio-demographic groups, calculated per capita and per family member of various compositions, have been established in Belarus. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Department of Integrated Social and Labour Sphere Development of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
The minimum consumer budget per family member of a four-person family for the period from February 1 to April 30, 2013, will be Br1,457,850 per month. This is 4.8% higher than the standard effective from November 1, 2012, to January 31, 2013 (Br1,391,530).
According to specialists, the main expenditure items of the MCB for a four-person family at December 2012 prices are as follows: food products – 54.3%, clothing, linen, footwear – 22.7%, housing and utility services – 4.9%, household services, transport, communication – 4.9%, cultural and household goods – 8%, sanitary and hygiene items, medicines – 2.3%, cultural and educational events and recreation – 1.5%, contributions and payments – 1.4%.
Average per capita minimum consumer budgets have also been established for a young three-person family – Br1,529,650, the working-age population – Br1,840,970, pensioners – Br1,430,150, students – Br1,443,020, children under 3 years old – Br1,140,780, children aged 3 to 6 years – Br1,360,090, and children aged 6 to 18 years – Br1,629,320.
The Ministry explained that the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On the Formation and Use of the Minimum Consumer Budget" establishes the legal framework for determining and using the MCB. 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. Minimum consumer budgets are established quarterly by a resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection at the prices of the last month of the quarter for six socio-demographic groups and two families of different compositions.
The MCB is used as a social standard for forecasting changes in the population's living standards, strengthening social support for citizens in need, and substantiating the minimum levels of state social guarantees.-0-