STATISTICS CONFIRM SOVIET ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES
The role that Soviet economic difficulties played in the downfall of Khrushchev stood out a little clearer upon publication of the official statistical report for 1964 in the January 50 issue of Pravda. The year 1964 was one of the worst since the death of Stalin.
The growth of industry as a whole was the lowest in recent years; i.e., 7.1%. But a whole series of sectors fell below this average rate. Light industry reached only a 3% increase and the food industry a mere 2%. Production of metal cutting and transforming machinery practically stagnated. The output of locomotives was below that of 1963 as was the output of various agricultural my ness radios and ready-made clothing. Meat production was’ down 20% ( compared with the previous year, and processed meats were down be,
Real income per capita rose by only 3.9%, actually - less than in various advanced capitalist countries in 1964, |
The same statistics, which contain only a small chapter on agriculture, significantly avoid giving any specifti'c, figures ‘on the 1964 grain harvest. fit we learn is that sales of grain products to the public were up 4% as compared with..1963 (a year when the harvest was unusually bad).°. Consumption of ‘cloth:was down 3% in 1964 as compared with 1963, ‘and the sale of automobiles was also down 3%.
The figures on animal husbandry - -ahow the disastrous effect of the wholesale slaughter of hogs during the winter of 1963-64. In fact in 1963 the number of hogs was down to 41,000,000, against 70,000,000 in 1962; and had risen to only 53, 000, 000. by the end. of: 1964; i. e., a figure nearly 25% lower than 1962. The decrease in the number of hogs is especially noticeable among the co-operatives and collectives -- 15,500,000 less than in 1962. Privately owned hogs rose to nearly the 1962 Tevel; that is to within 1,600,000, or 10% lower.
The number of sheep and goats was down 11% compared with 1962, and 7% as compared with 1963. The figure for cows has remained at exactly the same level of 38,000,000 for three years. As for cattle, the slight dip in 1963 was overcome in 1964 to again reach the 1962 level. .
The balance sheet for animal husbandry is therefore one of either stagnation or decline.