Вопросы определения потребительской корзины для регионов Российской Федерации в части непродовольственных товаров и услуг (на примере Астраханской области)

Abstract

The article highlights the pressing issue of qualitative transformation of the consumer basket, the composition of which has not been revised in the Russian Federation for 7 years. It has been stated that during this period there took place changes in the socio-economic development of the regions, including the demands of the population for a minimum set of nonfoods and services necessary for life and human development. Analysis of the active methods of calculating the consumer basket on the example of the Astrakhan region showed that food products make about 50%, the remaining 50% equally accounted for nonfoods and services. Calculating expenses for nonfoods and services is based on the established percentage ratio with the cost of food. This method does not allow to take into account all the minimum needs of various groups of the population for nonfoods and services for life support and human development. In recent years there have been the significant changes in the needs of the population, which are neglected by the method. An example is the need to purchase a mobile phone, computer, medical products and medicines, sporting goods, as well as the need for communication, educational, cultural, social and transport services. There has been proposed a normative method of calculating the cost of nonfoods and services in the consumer goods basket. The new method provides establishing a specific inventory and quantity of nonfoods with useful life, as well as determining a specific inventory and periodicity of the needed services, which will make the calculation of the consumer goods basket more credible. It has been proposed to provide savings for improving housing conditions and creating a financial reserve when forming a consumer basket. The preliminary calculations showed an increase in the project cost of the consumer basket by more than 2 times, which can lead to an increase in budget expenditures for social purposes, but at the same time it will also contribute to the development of economy and improve the quality of life of the citizens. Conclusions are made that there is a need to review the consumer basket. There has been recommended a comprehensive approach to the problem: to consider the needs of citizens and the budget possibilities.