Russia’s poverty jumps 20 per cent

Russia’s state statistical service says the number of people living in poverty last year spiked up by nearly 20 per cent. Statistics reported Monday for last year said 19.2 million Russians — about 13 per cent of the population — were living at or below the official poverty level of 9,662 rubles (US$142) a month. That’s an increase of 3.1 million over 2014.