The minimum consumer spending amounted to 498 thousand soums per month per person, Spot reports with reference to the State Statistics Committee.

It was calculated based on the results of a survey of 10.6 thousand households across the country, which were divided into 10 groups according to the size of expenses. Of these families, 30% were allocated with the least expenses and income.

Food expenditures were calculated based on a norm of 2,200 kcal per day. Expenditures on the necessary consumption of non-food goods and services were also taken into account.

Preliminary calculations of minimum costs were first published in May last year. Then they amounted to 440 thousand soums per person. The survey involved 5.4 thousand households.

For information, the minimum consumer spending will be used while:

•  determining the population group in need of material and other social support from the state;
•  determining the poverty line;
•  establishing the minimum amount of pensions and benefits, as well as the use of this approach as a criterion for the provision of other types of material assistance from the state to the population of the target group.