The Russian Government does not intend to lift the restrictions on the import of foreign cars, and regards the support of producers and not dealers as a priority, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the Japanese media ahead of his visit to Japan. The new custom duties on the import of foreign cars to Russia came into force as of January 12, 2009 in accordance with Government resolutions. RIA Novosti
Statistics
Energy consumption in Russia dropped by an average 8.1% between May 1 and 7 compared with the same period last year, reports Sovet Rynka non-commercial partnership. Power consumption dropped by 6.1% on the previous week. A drop in power consumption on the same period of last year was reported by 58 of the 64 Russian regions, which are part of the wholesale market price zones.
Interfax
Since the start of this year the Housing and Utilities Reform Fund has transferred 67.3 billion roubles to the regions for repair of residential stock and for moving residents out of decrepit housing. Since the Fund was formed as a state corporation it has transferred 121.8 billion roubles to the regions. The corporation's free assets amounted to 140.6 billion roubles as of May 1, 2009.
RIA Novosti
M1 money supply amounted to 3.8202 billion roubles as against 3.8209 billion roubles on April 27, the Bank of Russia's foreign and public relations department announced. Thus money supply dropped by 0.7 billion roubles or 0.01% during the course of the week.
RIA Novosti
Russian farmers may save 12 billion roubles during the sowing and harvesting seasons because of the fixed prices for fuel and lubricants, Agriculture Minister Yelena Skrynnik said at a meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev.
RIA Novosti
