Sunday, May 4, 2008

Russians protest the price of food

It almost sounds like the kind of headline you would hear in the years right after the end of the Soviet Union. The spiraling global food prices have hit Russia as well, and Russians aren't happy.

Several thousand took to the streets of St. Petersburg on Thursday to protest high food prices - among other rising costs of living. High oil prices have buoyed Russia's economy, which has grown for ten straight years now, and have helped to raise the standard of living for Russians. But along with more wealth has come inflation, and many Russians feel that their wages are not keeping pace with the increasing cost of living. Students and pensioners complain that they are unable to buy enough to eat with their government payments. Protestors called for the government to step in and control prices.

Inflation could be an early challenge to Dmitry Medvedev, who takes over the presidency on Wednesday.
Sphere: Related Content

No comments: