As financial well-being of Russians keeps improving, the economic situation gives reasons for concern.

MOSCOW, January 17, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information about social welfare of Russians based on the indices of 2010.

Satisfaction with life index has been stable over 2010. This index was the only one not affected by December negative dynamics. It was due to the gradual increase in the share of respondents who are satisfied with their life (from 26% in October to 30% in December) and due to the stable proportion of those who are relatively satisfied with their life (45-47% over the recent three months). The indicator (50 points) can be considered as average across the previous year: in September the record was updated (60 points); however, the previous records were up to 46 points. In five-year retrospective, the index holds an average position.  The most optimistic mood before holidays was expressed by Russians in 2007 (52 points); in the end of 2005 life situation was regarded as the worst (35 points).

As most of indicators, social optimism index lost 2 points (up to 60) in December. The decline was due to the reduction in the share of optimistic Russians (from 29 to 26%). Despite the negative dynamics, this indicator remains to be the leading one. It was observed not only across 2010, but across average December measurements: Russians were slightly optimistic only in 2007 (62 points) and in 2006 (61). To compare, 2009 was welcomed less positively - social optimism index was 40 points, and the share of pessimistic Russians was equaled to the share of the optimistic ones.

As most of indicators, economic situation index lost 2 points in December (from 26 to 24 points). This index differs from the rest of indices only by its low value. Despite statements from officials about the exit from the crisis, Russians are still pessimistic about the current economic state of Russia: 36% are convinced that the economic situation is bad; 8% think it is good. On the whole, over the recent two years after the acute phase of the crisis, the economic situation index has not reached the 2006 level (30-45 points). In addition, by the end of the year the index lost its positions it had had across the whole year (36 points in August). At the end of 2010 this index is having the same positions as it had in 2009. 

After the November rise the financial self-assessment index (58) went down to the same level as it had had across 2010 (56 points). According to Russians, 2010 was one of the most successful and stable year over the recent five years in terms of family budget: whereas in 2008 financial self-assessments were fluctuating, in 2010 this index has remained at the same level of 54-55 points; it was due to the dominating position of the group of respondents who assess their financial well-being as average (62-67% during the year). To compare, a year ago financial self-assessment index did not rise above the level of 48 points.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on 25-26 December, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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