Socio-economic indicators of the Astrakhan Region in the period between January and March 2009
A number of socio-economic indicators in the region increased in the period between January and March 2009. Agricultural output increased by 3.2%, the retail trade volume increased by 1.3%; and the volume of fee-based services - by 1.3%.
The volume of shipments, works, and services in the period between January and March 2009 totalled 13,131.0 million roubles, which in current prices amounts to 93.5% of the volume in the same period in 2008.
The industrial output index (IPP) in the period between January-March 2009 was 82%.
The most dynamic growth rate was registered in the following sectors: vehicle and equipment production (IPP compared with the period between January and March in 2008 amounted to 124.3%); rubber and plastics production (113.1%); pulp and paper (102%); electric and electro-optical equipment (101.3%)
Agriculture development has been showing positive growth rates. Agricultural output in the period between January and March 2009 increased by 3.2% compared with the same period last year, and amounted to 1,502.7 million roubles.
As of April 1, 2009 the cattle stock in the region totalled 233,800 (a 6.2% increase compared with the period as of March 1, 2008), out of which cows amounted to 115,200 (a 7.6% increase), pigs - 19,500 (a 36.8% decrease), sheep and goats - 1,395.7 thousand (a 12.6% increase).
In the period between January and March 2009, the total cattle and poultry output in all farm types (on a live weight basis) was 8,800 tons (103.3% compared with the same period in 2008); the dairy output was 30,000 tons (102.6%); the eggs output - 43,700,000 (102.7%).
The freight turnover on all transport types in the period between January and March 2009 was 2,539.7 million tons-km, which amounted to 91.2% of the turnover in the same period last year.
In the period between January and March 2009, an estimated 8,236,000 roubles were invested in capital assets from all financing sources, which amounts to 84% of the investment level in the same period last year.
The volume of construction works during the reported period totalled 3,194,200 roubles, which amounts to 73.5% of works in the same period last year.
In the period between January and March 2009, the following public utilities were commissioned: water pipes (0.74 km long); gas pipes (5.42 km, out of which 3.31 km were financed by the regional and municipal budgets and 2.11 km - by consumers). The following projects were commissioned: a boiler house (capacity - 2.91 Gcal); a Federal Cardiovascular Surgery Centre (167 beds; 100 patients/shift); a sports facility (3,394 square metres); an office and trade centre (7,062 square metres), and a fitness centre.
The consumer market has been growing. The retail trade volume in the period between January and March 2009 stood at 18,487,500 roubles, which amounts (on a product basis) to a 1.3% increase compared with the same period in 2008.
In the period between January and March 2009, trade companies and individual entrepreneurs trading in indoor facilities accounted for 89.6% of the retail trade volume; the share of outdoor retail markets and faires was 10.4% (in the period between January and March 2008 it was 88.8% and 11.2%, respectively).
In the period between January and March 2009, the amount of fee-based services provided to the population totalled 4,849,800 roubles (101.3% compared with the same period last year).
In the period between January and February 2009, the average per capita income stood at 9,729.2 roubles, which constitutes an 11.9% increase compared to the same period last year. The population's real disposable monetary income increased by 1% compared with January 2009.
In the period between January and February 2009, the average employee gross payroll in organisations, including small businesses, stood at 13,258.3 roubles, which amounted to an 18.5% increase compared with the period between January and February 2008, or a 3.8% increase in real terms (adjusted by the consumer price index).
In the current year, the negative consequences of the economic crisis for the regional labour market have continued. During the 1st quarter of 2009, the number of officially registered unemployed was 7,710, or 182.1% compared with the same period last year. The official unemployment rate as of the end of March 2009 amounted to 2.2% of the economically active population.
In the period between January and March 2009, the birth rate increased to 14.3 against 13.8 in the same period last year; the death rate decreased from 14.7 to 14.2 compared with the same period last year.
The anti-crisis council under the auspices of the Governor of Astrakhan was set up in accordance with Resolution No. 614 signed by the Governor of Astrakhan on December 1, 2008, in order to coordinate the implementation of anti-crisis measures by the executive agencies in the Astrakhan Region.
Four working groups were created, on the instructions of the Governor of Astrakhan, to overcome the risk of the global financial crisis affecting Astrakhan Region's social and economic development:
- on financial issues (by Executive Order of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region No. 456-Pr of October 21, 2008, headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Astrakhan's Regional Government and Finance Minister of the Astrakhan Region Sergei Mironov);
- on housing construction and the assessment of the effective use of available land and budgetary resources in housing construction (by Executive Order of the Government of the Astrakhan Region No. 456-Pr of October 21, 2008, headed by Deputy Prime Minster of Astrakhan's Regional Government and Minister for Construction and Road Maintenance of the Astrakhan Region Tabarak Mukhatov);
- on overcoming key risks to Astrakhan's economic production (by Executive Order of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region No. 345-r of October 21, 2008, headed by Deputy Prime Minister of Astrakhan's Regional Government and Minister for Economic Development of the Astrakhan Region Askar Kabikeyev);
- on averting a crisis in Astrakhan's regional labour market (by Executive Order of the Governor of the Astrakhan Region No. 399-r of November 25, 2008, headed by Minister for Social Development and Labour of the Astrakhan Region Yekaterina Lukyanenko).
Representatives from the banking system, academic institutions and top managers from major enterprises will participate in the group's work in addition to Government executive agencies.
Astrakhan Government's Resolution No. 563-Pr of December 11, 2008, On Anti-crisis Measures, sets out the anti-crisis measures to be taken and defines the fundamental guidelines for Astrakhan Government aimed at supporting the level of competitiveness already achieved in the Astrakhan Region in the coming two years, a period which is likely to see a further development of the global economic crisis.
Anti-crisis measures have also been worked out and adopted by the local self-government bodies at the municipal and district levels.
