Minimum consumer budgets for different socio-demographic groups have been established in Belarus, calculated per capita and per family member of various compositions, at September 2014 prices. This decision is contained in the Resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection No. 93, officially published today on the National Legal Internet Portal, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
Minimum consumer budgets for different socio-demographic groups have been established in Belarus, calculated per capita and per family member of various compositions, at September 2014 prices. This decision is contained in the Resolution of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection No. 93, officially published today on the National Legal Internet Portal, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
The average per capita minimum consumer budget for a family of four, calculated per member, will be Br2 million 100 thousand 20 from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. This is 1.9% higher than the standard effective from August 1 to October 31, 2014.
Average per capita minimum consumer budgets have also been established for the working-age population – Br2 million 684 thousand 180, pensioners – Br2 million 101 thousand 640, students – Br2 million 71 thousand 390, children aged up to 3 years – Br1 million 643 thousand 30, children aged from 3 to 6 years – Br2 million 118 thousand 100, children aged from 6 to 18 years – Br2 million 322 thousand 570, and for a young family of three – Br2 million 261 thousand 720.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed that the share of main consumer expenditure items in the minimum consumer budget for a family of four at September 2014 prices is as follows: food – 54.6%; clothing, linen, footwear – 19.9%; housing and communal services – 5.8%; household services, transport, communication – 7.1%; furniture, cultural and household items – 7.2%; sanitary and hygiene items, medicines – 2.1%; cultural and educational events and recreation – 1.7%; contributions and payments – 1.6%.
The Law of Belarus "On the Formation and Use of the Minimum Consumer Budget" establishes the legal framework for the definition and use of the MCB. The minimum consumer budget represents the expenses for purchasing a set of consumer goods and services to satisfy the basic physiological and socio-cultural needs of a person.
Minimum consumer budgets are established quarterly by 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.
According to specialists, the MCB is applied 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.
News of Belarus (BELTA)