PM Mishustin: Russian economy returns to steady growth

MOSCOW, Dec 8 (PRIME) -- The Russian economy has returned to steady growth, and the budget is balanced, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Wednesday at a government meeting.

“Thanks to the support of our people and businesses implemented by the government under the presidential orders, the Russian economy has returned to a steady growth. Financial discipline has also improved … The balanced state of the budget was ensured. All social obligations to the people are being fulfilled,” he said.

Still, it is important for the government to continue to improve efficiency of budget spending and federal programs, he said.

The government plans to allocate additional 14 billion rubles to payments to single parents. The government previously introduced a monthly social benefit for single parents with children aged between eight to 17.

“These payments have been issued to the families that bring up a total of over 1 million and 300,000 children. In order for them to receive the money on time, the government will allocate almost 14 billion rubles in addition to the 36 billion rubles envisaged earlier,” he said.

The government also wants to earmark more than 12 billion rubles to raise wages of the public sector employees, he added.

(74.1399 rubles – U.S. $1)

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