Interfax: Russians give economic situation good assessment – VTsIOM

MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) – The figures of social wellbeing of Russian citizens are at record levels for the third month in a row and the index of assessing economic situations reached historical maximums in July, the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) said on Tuesday.

Sociologists calculated the index of Russian satisfaction with life, which rose to a record level (79 points) in June and maintained this level in July (78 points).

The index of social optimism is 77 points, against 72 points in January, the VTsIOM said.

In July the index of financial positions kept the record set last month and was 76 points. This figure is growing for the fifth year in a row, at that 2009 level is lower than today’s by 34 points (42 points).

At the same time, the index of assessing the economic situation in the country, after an insignificant decline in June (63 points), hit a historical maximum of 69 points. While in 2009 and 2010 these figures were 50-60% lower.

Assessments of the political situation in Russia improved sharply in May (80 points against 73 points in April) and remained high in July (78 points). This figure is growing steadily since October 2013 (52 points).

The index assessing the general vector of the country’s development, which gained 22 points in March against February (73 points against 51 points), grew even more in May (80 points) and went slightly down in July (78 points).

The index of assessments is calculated as a spread between positive, average and negative assessments. The higher the index the better situation assessment Russian citizens have. The figure could vary from -100 to 100 points.

The VTsIOM held the poll on July 26-27 among 1,600 respondents in 130 cities, towns and villages in 42 Russian regions.