Since the beginning of the year, the prices of the basic food products have risen by 40% in the Transnistrian area, compared with the last year indices. The minimum consumer basket is now 870 Transnistrian rubles (1,001 Moldovan lei) “for the working people”, 830 rubles (965 lei) for children and 671 rubles (780 lei) for retirees, Info-Prim Neo's correspondent reports quoting data of the Trade Unions from the area. The minimum consumer basket is the indicator of the minimum volume and the consumption structures of materials goods and services to keep one's health and to maintain one's “vital activity.” The food consumption averagely reaches 496 rubles (576 lei), and the non-food consumption goes up to 327 rubles (380 lei). Compared to the last year, the minimum existence basket for one person hiked by 40 %. The sunflower oil rose 2.1 times, the eggs – up 13 %, the sausages – up 55%, the meat – up 90%, the bread and pastry – up 45 %, the rice – up 3.3, the sugar up 22%. The milk and dairy are up 40 %. The average monthly salary in the Transnistrian area is 2,139 rubles (2,487 lei). The salaries of doctors, teachers, journalists and other budget earners does not exceed (1,162 lei). A comparable amount goes to technicians, nurses, etc. The wage arrears exceed 100 million rubles (116 million lei).