Key indicators of Russia’s economic development on the rise as Americans continue to lose ground

By Vladimir V. Sytin
The Ukrainian Times

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured), industrial output and agricultural production increased by 1.7% and 3.7% respectively in Russia last year. The country produced the record 525 million tons of oil and harvested the record 105.3 million tons of grain.

Last year Russian banks increased assets to 77 trillion rubles. The unemployment rate accounts for about 5.3% in Russia today, compared with 7.8% at the start of 2011. Natural growth of the Russian population amounted to 37,100.

By comparison, Americans have continued to lose ground since the 18-month recession ended in June 2009. U.S. Census Bureau data show that a median household income fell by 3.9% to $51,939 in 2013, compared with 2009 when Obama took office. The poorest fifth fared even worse, with incomes dropping 5.9% to $20,900.

At present, the U.S. federal debt exceeds $212 trillion. American observers say federal government deficits are supposed to stay over $500 billion per year until 2020.