Activities of consumer societies of Russia centrosoyuz

In system of consumer cooperatives of Russia Centrosoyuz destructive processes which began in the 90s are continued. The number of consumer companies, the number of shareholders and the number of areas in which there are consumer society are reduced. The total volume of activity of consumer cooperatives (at constant prices) in 2013 has been reduced in comparison with 2009 by 8.8%. Activity of consumer cooperatives on servicing the remote and sparsely populated villages is unprofitable, due to the low purchasing power of the rural population, the prevalence in this regard in the structure of retail sales of cheap goods and low competitiveness of consumer cooperatives, compared with retail chains, the poor state of roads. In 2013, in the countryside, there were 33.7 thousand of cooperative stores, which is in 3.7 times less than it was in 1990, and 2 times less than in 2000. There were about 77% of the stores, and the rest were closed or leased. Procurement of Consumer Cooperatives, after a sharp downturn in 90-s are intensified in terms of procurement of milk, fruit and pig hides, procurement of potatoes, vegetables and wool continue to decrease. Manufacturing activity of consumer societies is reducing. With respect to the federal and regional state support consumer societies of Russia Centrosoyuz are in an unequal position with the subjects of agricultural consumer cooperatives. Considering the social and economic importance of rural development of this form of consumer cooperatives, it is necessary to strengthen its state support at both the federal and regional levels.