MOSCOW, May, 30, 2007. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) submits information concerning what the Russians could not afford during the last year.

For the last year, half of Russians had to give up decent vacation because they could not afford it (52%). One third of respondents could not afford household goods for their families (35%); clothes and footwear (33%); had to give up medical treatment (33%); a trip to relatives, friends (33%); going out to movies, theatres, other entertaining centers (30%). There are also a few of those who could not afford necessary groceries (20%); could not host guests or be guests (16%); pay for education of children (15%) and adults (11%).

For the last two years the part of those who could not afford necessary clothes and footwear has declined (for 9%); household goods (for 5%).

Women more often than men identify that their following needs were not satisfied: medical treatment, recovery of health (9% difference), decent rest, vacation (+5%), purchasing clothes and footwear for self and family members (+5%), going out to movies, theatres (+4%), purchasing necessary groceries (+4%), etc.

The older the respondents are, the more often they identify that they could not afford a few expenses: medical treatment (14% in the group of 18-24 years old and 51% of 60+ years old); groceries (13% and 33%); household goods (27% and 43%); clothes and footwear (25% and 46%); trips to relatives/friends (24% and 39%); hosting guests/relatives or visiting them (11% and 20%). At the same time, the senior generation are not to spend much for going out to movies, theatres and other entertaining centers (31% and 24%); vacation (52% and 43%). Mostly respondents of 35-44 years old (58%) complain about lack of money for qualitative rest during the days off work. Respondents of 35-59 years old (19%, 10-12% in the other groups) complain about financial shortage for paying for children's education.

The opportunities of families with low income (up to 1500 rubles per family member per month) are very limited. The majority of them had to give up purchasing clothes and footwear (65%), household goods (62%), decent rest (59%). Approximately half of them (46-50%) had to give up medical care, necessary groceries, trips to relatives and friends, visiting culture and entertaining centers. One thirds of them (31%) had to give up hosting guests and being guests, paying for education of children. Quarter (24%) had to give up paying for education of adult family members. Respondents with income of 5000 rubles highlight the key points differently, identifying in the first place interesting spare time. They identify lack of money for vacation (45%); for going out to movies, theatres (30%); for visiting friends/relatives, medical care, household goods, clothes, footwear (21-25%); for education of children and adults, groceries, hosting guests (8-12%).

All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM, January, 27-28, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population centers of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.