MOSCOW. Aug 23 (Interfax) - The material needs of Russians shrank over the past year. A family of three needs a monthly income of 63,000 rubles for a normal life now, the Romir Research Holding told Interfax on Thursday.

It polled 1,500 respondents aged from 18 to 60 or more in cities and the countryside in all the eight federal districts in August.

The decline was particularly large in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The most popular answers to the question how much money a family of three needs for a normal life were 45,000 rubles (26%) and 60,000 rubles (23%), the same as last year. Twenty-two percent of the respondents were satisfied with a lower amount, and 29% asked for more.

Romir concluded that a family of three needed 62,600 rubles per month to live normally. The indicator declined by nearly 5%, from 65,700 rubles in 2011. It stood at 56,000 rubles in 2009.

"Judging by state statistic reports, the average disposable income of a three-member family (excluding taxes, dues and mandatory payments) was approximately 60,000-63,000 rubles in summer 2012. For the first time in ten years, the desired income generally coincided with the real one," says a Romir commentary received by Interfax.

The sociologists noted significant stratification of Russians by disposable income. "More than a half of Russians get less than 15,000 rubles per month, so 60,000 - 65,000 rubles per month for a family of three is rather a dream for 60-65% of families," they said.

Men think a family of three needs 66,400 rubles per month to live normally (69,000 rubles a year ago). Women asked for less - 59,500 rubles (63,000 rubles a year ago). "The needs of all age groups reduced rather evenly," Romir said.

Keywords: Russia, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade - Russian News - Russia - Johnson's Russia List

MOSCOW. Aug 23 (Interfax) - The material needs of Russians shrank over the past year. A family of three needs a monthly income of 63,000 rubles for a normal life now, the Romir Research Holding told Interfax on Thursday.

It polled 1,500 respondents aged from 18 to 60 or more in cities and the countryside in all the eight federal districts in August.

The decline was particularly large in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The most popular answers to the question how much money a family of three needs for a normal life were 45,000 rubles (26%) and 60,000 rubles (23%), the same as last year. Twenty-two percent of the respondents were satisfied with a lower amount, and 29% asked for more.

Romir concluded that a family of three needed 62,600 rubles per month to live normally. The indicator declined by nearly 5%, from 65,700 rubles in 2011. It stood at 56,000 rubles in 2009.

"Judging by state statistic reports, the average disposable income of a three-member family (excluding taxes, dues and mandatory payments) was approximately 60,000-63,000 rubles in summer 2012. For the first time in ten years, the desired income generally coincided with the real one," says a Romir commentary received by Interfax.

The sociologists noted significant stratification of Russians by disposable income. "More than a half of Russians get less than 15,000 rubles per month, so 60,000 - 65,000 rubles per month for a family of three is rather a dream for 60-65% of families," they said.

Men think a family of three needs 66,400 rubles per month to live normally (69,000 rubles a year ago). Women asked for less - 59,500 rubles (63,000 rubles a year ago). "The needs of all age groups reduced rather evenly," Romir said.