Penza, 20 June 2011. PenzaNews. In January-May, 2011 the industrial production index in the Penza region was 116.8 % compared to the same period of the last year. Producing of the electric equipment, the electronic and the optical equipment increased by one-third, the pulp-and-paper’s producing increased by 16.5 %, that of the woodworking — by 9.8 %.

The department of Economics of the Penza region said: "The volume of production of agriculture was 9.5 billion rubles from the beginning of year, what was less than that in the last year. 106 thousand sq. meters of the total area of apartment houses was constructed, that was 14.2 % more compared to the last year level".

The turnover of retail trade reached 49.7 billion rubles for five months, the volume of the paid services provided to households — 12.8 billion rubles.

Consumer prices increased by 4.5 % from the beginning of year, the prices and tariffs for paid services — by 5.8 %. The cost of the minimum set of foodstuff has become 2 550 rubles by the end of May.

Monetary incomes counting per capita become 13156 rubles, consumer expenses in May — 9901 rubles.

The level of the registered unemployment remains stable — 1.3 % of the economically active population.