living conditions

• standard of living improved
• minimum wage 1956
• average household income grew by 3% 1960-5
• diet of Russians improved; less dependent on Bread and potatoes
• by 1968 50% of Soviet households owned a TV and washing machine
• pensions and other benefits increased
• increase in number of houses being constructed> moving away from crowded apartments
• diesel trains added, many tracks electrified, new lines opened to Virgin lands to transport grain and agriculture
• people able to move more freely
• some items like clothes and footwear were very expensive
• 1968 10% had phone
• quantity over quality
• many apartments lacked running water or lifts
• easing of censorship of books and literature had to be soon reversed
• 1958 abolition of UNI fees
• scrapped schools fees which had been introduced 1939
• 40% of total population still worked the land
• membership of party increased from 6.9 million to 11 million
• 1960-65 3% growth in industrial income