PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27094, 18 July 1953, Page 7

PRODUCTION IN RUSSIA

INCREASE CLAIMED IN OUTPUT

(Rec. 8 p.m.) MOSCOW, July 17. The first economic report of the Malenkov Government since it was formed last March after the death of Stalin said today that the output in the first six months this year was 10 per cent, higher than in the corresponding period in 1952. A statistical report said that the economic progress reported over the last six months indicated that the national economy was meeting with success. The programme was set forth in the fifth Five Year Plan adopted at the nineteenth congress of the Communist Party in October last year. Labour productivity showed a 5 per cent, increase over last yeatr, and this accounted for a large share of the increased output. The report said that the Malenkov Government had ordered for 1953 that Soviet industry should produce for supply by sale to the population additional mass construction goods to the value of 20.000.000,000 roubles.

The programme of increased output of consumer goods is interpreted as being in line with the present Government’s policy of “promoting a general improvement in the standards of living.” A 72 per cent, increase in the sale of private cars to the Soviet public recorded during the first half of this year also indicated a policy of catering for growing public demand.