Global Economic Crisis Is Personal for Russians

Gallup's survey, conducted in April through June, shows Russians' confidence in their nation's economy faltered as it entered recession this year accompanied by unemployment and inflation. Reflecting on their own communities and themselves, Russians' optimism about the local job market, their personal standard of living, and the local economy — three of four items that make up the index – withered to less than half of last year's levels.

RIA Novosti // Dec. 14, 2009 - 09:38 GMT