In December 2012 most of social welfare indices reached the highest scores over the whole measurement period. In other words, Russians feel good as never before.

MOSCOW, January 10, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the indices of social well-being of Russians.

The Satisfaction with Life Index has reached 60 points and has become the highest during the whole measurement period. The previous maximum was recorded in 2007 (52 points). Over a year the index has increased by one quarter (from 43 to 60 points).

The financial self-assessment of Russians has improved. In December 2012 the index has reached the highest score (64 points), up 10 points compared to the previous score (55). Seven years ago the score made up only 37 points.

The level of social optimism reached 66 points in December, one third higher than in December 2008, the crisis year (40 points). Compared to the previous year, the index gained more than 10 points (53 in December 2011).

In December 2012 the Economic Situation Index scored 48 points, similar to the 2006 score (48 points). A record high was five years ago (61). Over the recent two years the index has doubled (from 24 points in 2010).

The Political Situation Index has reached 63 points in the end of 2012, which is one of the highest scores through all the years of measurement.  The Index reached a record high only in 2007 (68). There is a one third increase compared to the last year (from 42 points).

Over the recent five years the Overall Development Index reached a record high in December 2012 (52 points). The previous record high was set in 2007 (64). There is a one third increase over the recent year (37 points in December 2011).

The Satisfaction with Life Index measures how much Russians are satisfied with their life; the Index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of Index is, the more Russians are satisfied with life. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that good evaluations are dominant over the bad ones; the zero index value indicates the balance between good and bad evaluations.

The Social Optimism Index measures how optimistic Russians are about the future; the index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of index is, the more optimistic Russians are. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that the number of optimists exceeds the number of pessimists; the zero index value indicates the balance between optimistic and pessimistic outlook.

The Economic Situation Index measures how Russians assess the economic situation in the country; the Index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of index is, the better Russians assess the economic situation in the country. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that good evaluations are dominant over the bad ones; the zero index value indicates the balance between good and bad evaluations.

The Financial Self-Assessment Index measures how Russians assess the financial situation in their families; the Index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of index is, the more Russians are satisfied with the financial situation in their families. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that good evaluations are dominant over the bad ones; the zero index value indicates the balance between good and bad evaluations.

The Political Situation Index measures how Russians assess the political situation in the country; the Index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of index is, the better Russians assess the political situation in the country. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that good evaluations are dominant over the bad ones; the zero index value indicates the balance between good and bad evaluations.

The Overall Development Index measures how Russians assess the country`s overall development; the Index is calculated as a difference between positive and average and negative assessments. The higher the value of index is, the more Russians approve of the overall development of the country. The Index can vary from -100 to 100 points. The positive value of Index indicates that good evaluations are dominant over the bad ones; the zero index value indicates the balance between good and bad evaluations.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 22-23, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!