Higher minimum subsistence level per capita in Moldova

The monthly minimum subsistence level per capita in Moldova at the end of 2007 was 1,099 lei, a 17.6% increase compared with 2006, the National Bureau of Statistics said, cited by Info-Prim Neo. The minimum subsistence level is calculated on the basis of the prices of the food products included in the consumer basket and of the costs of non-food products and services determined according to the real structure of the population’s consumption expenses by the Survey of Households’ Budgets. By the place of residence, the minimum subsistence level is higher in urban areas (1,189.2 lei) than in rural areas (1,036.3) lei. Specialists say that this discrepancy is due mainly to the different structure of the consumption expenses and to the large share of self-consumption in rural areas. The non-food basket in urban areas made up 44.2% of the minimums subsistence level, while in rural areas – 34.4%. According to the study, the persons that invested more in basic necessities were the working population (1,159 lei), especially men (1,227 lei). The minimum subsistence level for pensioners was 943.4 lei. The average monthly pension in January 2008 was 548.3 lei. It covered 58% of the minimum subsistence level. An average sum of 1,002 lei a month was needed to maintain a child. In particular, the parents needed 394 lei to maintain a child aged under one year and 1,118 lei for a child aged 7-15. Given that the monthly allowances for maintaining a child younger than 1.5 years is 230.7 lei for insured persons and 100 lei for uninsured persons, the social benefits cover 58.5% and, respectively, 25.4% of the necessities for children younger than one year. The average salary of an employee in 2007 increased to 2,065 lei. All the employed could cover the minimum subsistence level for the population able to work, except for the agriculture workers. Specialists say that the salary in the financial sector exceeded the minimum subsistence level about fourfold, while in transport and communication and in the construction sector – 2.6 times.