According to the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) data, GDP growth totaled 9,5% in 4Q of 2007, and in 2007 on the whole - 8,1%. Analysts doubt the Rosstat takes into account the price rise properly, supposing that therefore the Russian indices of economy growth can be overestimated. However, they are sure that growth continues as the food inflation can unexpectedly become the new source of agriculture growth.

The majority of Russians still appreciates highly Vladimir Putin and is fully content with his Prime Minister post. But the majority would not like to change the presidential form of government to the parliamentary one in Russia. Such is the result of the last public opinion polls conducted by the analytic Levada Center.

The number of the unemployed in the Russian Federation was 5 mln people at the end of February. It is higher than in January (4,3 mln) as reported Rosstat (the Federal State Statistics Service).

Russians have adapted themselves on the whole to the new economic relations for the 15-year reforms period as considers the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) corresponding member, RAS Sociology Institute director Mikhail Gorshkov. He spoke at the press-conference devoted to the 50th anniversary of sociology revival in Russia.
According to the scientist “90% of population considers that proprietary right should be sacred”.

Inhabitants of large cities of Russia spend RUR 3000-4600 ($120 - $184) for children monthly. Such poll conducted the international research company Nielsen (ACNielsen) among 2100 people in five Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Samara. According to the research, about the third of this money get chain stores. According to the data of Nielsen, there are more than 50 chains of baby-goods stores in Russia today.

Russian international reserves attained the new record value. As of January, 25 their volume totaled $479,4 bln, reported the department of external and public relations of Bank of Russia on Thursday.

In 2007 the volume of illegal import totaled 16,1 % from official one, if compared to the statistics of the Federal Customs Service with the Central Bank data. This is the record level in the newest history of Russia. In 1996 unrecorded import reached 44,7 % from official one, in 2005 - 29 %, and in 2006 - 20,7 %.

The foreign trade turnover in 2007, as estimated by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, totaled $579,3 bln, and increased by 23,6% (in 2006 - by 26,9%). The foreign trade turnover with the far abroad countries totaled $493,9 bln (growth by 25,3%), with the CIS countries - $85,4 bln (growth by 25,7%). In the total volume of commodity turnover to the export stake falls 61,1%, import - 38,9 %.

According to the data of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (ARPORC), today young people in Russia do not aspire to make a career because of uncertainty in their future professional success. The majority of Russian inhabitants at the age of 18-35 years old (this is the very age interval that is defined as “youth”) skeptically estimates their career prospects. ARPORC has studied the viewpoints of 1600 people from 153 settlements, in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia and has come to the following conclusion: about a quarter of interviewees (24 %) considers that it is a little bit easier to become successful in creative sphere, than in business, management, and especially in politics. The answer is predictable if to consider, that now there are many propositions from mass media representatives to become a star or even a people’s artist. It appears that not only teenagers, who go to school, but also quite conscious citizens trust the promise that to become well-known equally means to become rich.

So, only 71% of Russians have free time. Still, only 31% among them believe that they have enough free time, and 40% complain of its lack. Also, 27% have specified, that they practically do not have free time at all. The most “free” people are elderly Russians: two thirds of them (64%) do have free time and that’s enough for them. The most “busy” are people of 25-59 years old, 32-35% of them are in a constant mad rush. In spite of this, most of the interviewees (51%) consider that rest and leisure conditions became better in Russia for the last years. Two years ago only 41% of interviewees had the same point of view. At the same time, the number of those who complain about deterioration of leisure conditions has decreased (from 26% up to 17%).