Almost half of all Russian families say that have enough money only for food and clothing. They say they cannot buy other things they need for their houses, such as furniture and appliances. In other words, they can buy short-term items but not long-term items. Media reports say the information comes from a survey of 48,000 households by the state agency Rosstat. Russian media company RBK said a little more than 48 percent of families did not have money to buy smartphones or refrigerators. However, that number is an improvement; last year, almost 50 percent said the same thing. Young families and older people who do not work were most likely to say they could not pay for more than food and clothing. Economic troubles have damaged the public image of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Putin’s first years as president, in 2000 to 2008, the country’s economy was growing quickly. High prices for Russia’s oil and gas exports helped create that growth. Now, lower oil prices and restrictions by Western countries have slowed economic growth.
Title: Almost Half of Russian Families Can Afford Only Food, Clothing
Content: <div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/724382f5-0caf-46c5-8a15-a0d6d5c54479_hq.wav' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Almost Half of Russian Families Can Afford Only Food, Clothing' data-article-id='3878'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='7896'>Almost half of all Russian families say that have enough money only for food and clothing.</span> <span data-start-time='7896' data-end-time='17396'>They say they cannot buy other things they need for their houses, such as furniture and appliances.</span> <span data-start-time='17396' data-end-time='24438'>In other words, they can buy short-term items but not long-term items.</span> <span data-start-time='24438' data-end-time='35833'>Media reports say the information comes from a survey of 48,000 households by the state agency Rosstat.</span> <span data-start-time='35833' data-end-time='48979'>Russian media company RBK said a little more than 48 percent of families did not have money to buy smartphones or refrigerators.</span> <span data-start-time='48979' data-end-time='58229'>However, that number is an improvement; last year, almost 50 percent said the same thing.</span> <span data-start-time='58229' data-end-time='69042'>Young families and older people who do not work were most likely to say they could not pay for more than food and clothing.</span> <span data-start-time='69042' data-end-time='76229'>Economic troubles have damaged the public image of Russian President Vladimir Putin.</span> <span data-start-time='76229' data-end-time='85708'>In Putin’s first years as president, in 2000 to 2008, the country’s economy was growing quickly.</span> <span data-start-time='85708' data-end-time='92792'> High prices for Russia’s oil and gas exports helped create that growth.</span> <span data-start-time='92792' data-end-time='102313'>Now, lower oil prices and restrictions by Western countries have slowed economic growth.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/BC0CDAE5-1151-422D-9495-86841EDE65BA_cx0_cy8_cw0_w1023_r1_s.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=12976 data-hint-location='7896' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/what_is_an_appliance.wav'>What is an appliance?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='a machine that is powered by electricity and that is used in people's houses'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/a_grocery_bag.wav'><span>a grocery bag</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/a_brand_of_luxury_car.wav'><span>a brand of luxury car</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/a_quick_meal.wav'><span>a quick meal</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/a_machine_that_is_powered_by_electricity_and_that_is_used_in_peoples_houses.wav'><span>a machine that is powered by electricity and that is used in people's houses</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=12977 data-hint-location='0' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/almost_half_of_all_russian_families_say_that_have_enough_money_only_for_food_and_what.wav'>Almost half of all Russian families say that have enough money only for food and what?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='clothing'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/clothing.wav'><span>clothing</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/animals.wav'><span>animals</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/shelter.wav'><span>shelter</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/phones.wav'><span>phones</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=12978 data-hint-location='85708' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/_high_prices_for_russias_oil_and_gas_exports_helped_create_that__blank_.wav'> High prices for Russias oil and gas exports helped create that <span class='blank'>growth</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='growth'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/religion.wav'><span>religion</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/school.wav'><span>school</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/art.wav'><span>art</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/3364/growth.wav'><span>growth</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
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