MOSCOW, July 11, 2007. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) in cooperation with 

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16% of the respondents monthly spend up to 1,000 rubles on their recurring payments. Every fourth respondent manages to keep within the 1001 to 2000 limit (25%). From 2001 to 3000 rubles is the sum that 16% of the respondents pay, another 13% spend from 3001 to 5000 rubles, whereas 14% pay out over 5000 rubles. 7% of the respondents note that they do not make any recurring payments, whereby 9% find it difficult to estimate the sum they normally give out.

The higher the level of income of Russians is, the higher the costs of their recurring payments are. Thus, in the group with the income of over 5000 rubles per family member per month only one fourth of the respondents (28%) mentioned that the total sum of their monthly recurring payments does not exceed 2000 rubles. However, in the group with the income level of 3001-5000 rubles per family member per month every second of the respondents stated that (52%), the percentage was still higher in the group with the income of 1501-3000 rubles and totals two thirds (67%). In the most low-income group (less than 1500 rubles per family member per month) a little fewer of the respondents manage to keep within this sum on their recurring payments (56% of the respondents). However, the share of those who do not make any recurring payments is in this group the highest and totals 15% (4%-5% in the more well-to-do groups).

The fact that it is possible in our country at the present moment to achieve a higher income level if one possesses a higher education level can be confirmed by that the sums spent on recurring payments are as a rule higher among the more educated groups of Russians. Thus, the majority of the group with junior secondary education pays out less than 2000 rubles on their recurring payments (62%). Among the respondents with general secondary or post-secondary education 41%-43% keep within the 2000 rubles limit, whereas among the respondents with incomplete or complete higher education only one fourth of the respondents do (27%).

The average sum of monthly payments in Moscow and Saint Petersburg is noticeably higher than that in other types of settlements. The minimum sums in the capitals (less than 2000 rubles) are paid by 24% of the respondents, whereas the maximum sums (more than 5000 rubles) by 35%. In large cities the amounts of payments are substantially lower: 34% of the respondents give out less than 2000 rubles, and no more than 11% pay over 5000 rubles. In the medium-size cities life in this respect is more expensive than that in large industrial centers, but it is still cheaper than in Moscow and Saint Petersburg: 24% make payments amounting to less than 2000 rubles per month, 20% spend more than 5000 rubles. The amount of recurring payments in small cities is, as a rule, more modest: half of the residents pay out less than 2000 rubles, while one tenth spends more than 5000 rubles (11%) on their recurring payments. Life in the rural area is still cheaper, 54% of the respondents spend the minimum sum here, and the maximum is paid by no more than 6%.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on June 2-3, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.