A card system has been introduced. Card system for supplying the population

At the same time, the share of those wishing to receive a food card has increased by a quarter in less than a year, according to a survey released on Thursday by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM).

The card system is a system for supplying the population with consumer goods in conditions of shortage. With this system, to purchase a product, you must not only pay money for it, but also present a one-time coupon giving the right to purchase it. Cards (coupons) establish certain standards for the consumption of goods per person per month.

During World War I, rationing existed in a number of warring powers, including the Russian Empire. For the first time in Russia, cards were introduced V 1916 due to the food crisis caused by the war. Then the Provisional Government took advantage of this practice, establishing April 29, 1917 card system in all cities. Grain was distributed exclusively by ration cards: rye, wheat, spelt, millet, buckwheat, etc.

After the October Revolution, cards appeared again in August-September 1918 and lasted until 1921. When organizing food distribution, a “class approach” was practiced.

The card system was canceled in 1921 in connection with the transition to the NEP policy and the flourishing of entrepreneurship.

In 1929 At the end of the NEP, a centralized card system was reintroduced in the cities of the country. In April 1929, bread cards were introduced; by the end of the year, the card system covered all types of food products, and then affected industrial products. Cards of the first category were intended for workers who could eat 800 g of bread per day (family members were entitled to 400 g). Employees belonged to the second supply category and received 300 g of bread per day (and 300 g for dependents). The third category - the unemployed, the disabled, pensioners - were entitled to 200 each. But the “non-labor elements”: traders, ministers of religious cults did not receive cards at all. All housewives under 56 years of age were also deprived of cards: in order to receive food, they had to get a job.

The system lasted throughout the period of collectivization and industrialization, until 1935, and covered more than 40 million people.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War in 1941 centralized card distribution is reintroduced. Cards for food and some types of industrial goods appeared in Moscow and Leningrad already in July 1941. Cards were introduced for bread, cereals, sugar, confectionery, oil, shoes, fabrics, and clothing. By November 1942, they were already circulating in 58 major cities of the country.

Card distribution of food and industrial goods existed in the USSR until December 1947.

The last wave of normalized distribution in the USSR started in 1983 with the introduction of coupons (coupon system). The essence of the coupon system was that in order to purchase a scarce product, it was necessary not only to pay money, but also to hand over a special coupon authorizing the purchase of this product.

Initially, coupons were issued for some scarce consumer goods, but subsequently coupons were introduced for many food products and some other goods (tobacco, vodka, sausage, soap, tea, cereals, salt, sugar, in some cases bread, mayonnaise, washing powder , lingerie, etc.). In practice, it was often impossible to use coupons, since the corresponding goods were not available in stores.

The coupon system began to fade in the early 1990s due to rising prices, inflation (which reduced effective demand) and the spread of free trade (which reduced deficits). However, coupons were retained for a number of goods before 1993.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

The card system was not a unique discovery of the Soviet Union. Even in ancient China, during times of disaster, long ropes with the imperial seal were distributed to the population, and the seller deftly snatched a piece during each purchase.

A system of “rations” and food distribution existed in Mesopotamia. However, food cards began to be introduced everywhere only during the First World War. Austria-Hungary and Germany thus regulated the demand for meat, sugar, bread, kerosene, France and England - for coal and sugar. In Russia, zemstvo organizations and local governments also introduced cards; one of the most scarce products was sugar - it was bought en masse for the production of moonshine, and a significant part of Poland, where sugar factories were located, was occupied by the enemy.

In the 1920-40s, cards will become faithful companions of every resident of the USSR. The largest country in the world could eat plenty of ordinary bread only in harvest years. The era of difficulties and hardships taught the inhabitants of the Union to treat food very carefully; they even collected textbook crumbs from the table. “The Soviet government gives a unique interpretation to the struggle for bread, highlighting it as one of the forms of class-political struggle,” wrote Nikolai Kondratiev in 1922.

All over the country, cards for bread products were introduced by the beginning of 1929. The first category supplied workers in the defense industry, transport and communications, engineers, and the top brass of the army and navy. They were entitled to 800 grams of bread per day. Over time, cards began to be extended to meat, butter, sugar and cereals. Stalin, in a letter to Molotov, outlined his views on labor supply: “Select shock workers at each enterprise and supply them fully and, first of all, with food and textiles, as well as housing, providing them with all insurance rights in full. Non-strike workers should be divided into two categories, those who have been working at a given enterprise for at least a year, and those who have been working for less than a year, and supply the former with food and housing in the second place and in full, and the latter in the third place and at a reduced rate. Regarding health insurance, etc. have a conversation with them approximately like this: you have been working at the enterprise for less than a year, you deign to “fly” - if you are ill, in case of illness, you will receive not a full salary, but, say, 2/3, and those who have been working for at least a year, let They get full salary."

Cards finally took root throughout the entire USSR by 1931, when the decree “On the introduction of a unified system of supplying workers using fence books” was issued. L.E. Marinenko notes that the authorities introduced centralized supply under the influence of the principle of “industrial pragmatism,” where the size of the ration directly depended on the citizen’s contribution to the industrialization of the country. The creation of collective farms, the mass famine of the early 1930s, and the construction of huge enterprises became a serious test for the country. But after the first five-year plan, the situation returned to normal, planning standards were established, canteens and restaurants began to open. On January 1, 1935, the cards were abolished. Workers were actively involved in the movement of shock workers and Stakhanovites. They were motivated, among other things, by material incentives.

The Great Patriotic War forced us to remember again about limiting the supply of goods. On July 16, 1941, the order of the People's Commissariat of Trade “On the introduction of cards for some food and industrial goods in the cities of Moscow, Leningrad and in certain cities of the Moscow and Leningrad regions” appears. Food and manufactured goods cards now extended to flour, cereals, pasta, meat, butter, sugar, fish, fabrics, soap, shoes, and socks. The country's population was divided into four main categories - workers and engineers, employees, dependents, and children. Each of them was divided into two more; the first category included persons employed at the most important facilities. For example, in Krasnoyarsk, workers of the 1st and 2nd categories received 800 and 600 grams of bread per day, respectively, employees of the 1st and 2nd categories - 500 and 400 grams each. The norms for issuing products depended on the situation in the city and the availability of certain products - for example, in Astrakhan in 1943, the population, depending on the category, received 600, 500 and 300 grams of bread instead of 800, 600 and 400 grams in normal times.

Moscow and Leningrad workers in July 1941 could count on 2 kilograms of cereals, 2.2 kilograms of meat, 800 grams of fat per month. National goods were sold using special coupons - workers had at their disposal 125 coupons per month, employees - 100 coupons, children and dependents - 80 each. A meter of fabric “cost” 10 coupons, a pair of shoes - 30, a woolen suit - 80, a towel - 5. Grocery cards were issued every month, manufactured goods cards were issued every six months. If a set was lost, it was not restored, so theft of cards was terribly feared.

By 1943, "letter supply" in three categories - "A", "B" and "C" - became widespread. Officials, journalists, party activists, and the leadership of law enforcement agencies ate in the “literary canteens,” which allowed them, in addition to hot food, to receive an additional 200 grams of bread per day. The cards did not apply to the rural population, except for the intelligentsia and evacuees. Village residents were mainly supplied with coupons or received grain in kind, and the issue of physical survival became acute. “Guska, marry the lintenant! Lintenants will receive a big card,” say the heroes of Viktor Astafiev’s works. In total, by the end of the war, 74-77 million people were on state supplies.

Salaries did not play a significant role during the Great Patriotic War, because “commercial” prices were many times higher than state ones. An emergency doctor in August 1942 described the market in Malakhovka near Moscow: “A real Sukharevka of the past. What's not here! And live chickens, and sheep, and meat, and greens. Ration cards are also sold here... vodka is sold in stacks, snacks are given: mushrooms, pieces of herring, pies, etc.; they sell things: jackets from the back, and boots from the feet, and soap, and cigarettes individually and in packs... A real pandemonium... Old women stand in a line and hold in their hands teapots with broken spouts, and postcards, and pieces of chocolate and sugar , locks, nails, figurines, curtains... you can’t list everything.” The markets were mesmerizing, the products here swirled in a wondrous dance, but the prices hit both the mind and the pocket very hard.

The rapid mobilization of society allowed the Soviet Union to win the war with Germany. The soldiers returning from the front were waiting for relief, but in some places the situation even worsened. In September 1946, a closed resolution of the Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks was issued “On saving in the expenditure of bread.” About 27 million people, mostly dependents, were deprived of bread cards. The workers wondered: “I myself am assigned to the canteen, but what will the children eat?”

Prices at public catering establishments increased. Thus, in the canteens of Pervouralsk, meat goulash used to cost 2 rubles. 10 kopecks, and the price rose to 4 rubles. 30 kopecks At the same time, prices for bread sold on ration cards increased, and distribution standards decreased from 300 to 250 grams for dependents, from 400 to 300 grams for children. A curious incident occurred in Vologda in September 1946: “A disabled war veteran wanted to get bread on ration cards, the seller gave him 1.4 kilograms of bread... The buyer swore, threw the bread and said: “What did I fight for? They didn’t kill me at the front, but here they want to kill not only me, but also my family. Can I live with such a standard with a family of 6 people?” The cards stayed in the USSR until 1947. They were abolished in December along with monetary reform. To increase the prestige of the authorities, state retail prices for some groups of goods were reduced by 10-12%.

Pavel Gnilorybov, Moscow historian, coordinator of the Mospeshkom project

On December 1, 1990, for the first time after the Great Patriotic War, coupons were introduced in Leningrad. What food cards are, why this measure was introduced and whether Russia is in danger of experiencing the coupon system again - in our material.

1. What is a card system

The card system (coupons) is a way to provide the population with goods in conditions of shortage. Under this system, to purchase a product, you not only need to pay money for it, but also present a coupon giving the right to purchase it. In addition, coupons establish certain standards for the consumption of goods per person per month.

Food cards were first introduced in Russia in 1916 to overcome the food crisis caused by the First World War. The card system was widespread in the countries of the socialist camp. It was used to combat commodity shortages. At the same time, in the countries of the capitalist camp, coupons served as a form of support for socially vulnerable groups of citizens.

2. What is it for?

The card system was widely used to combat commodity shortages. Such cards, also known as coupons, determined the rate of consumption of goods per person per month. That is why such a system was also called normalized distribution. In addition to food, non-food products also began to be sold using coupons, but people still purchased mainly food.

As a rule, coupons were handed over at the place of registration in the housing office or in a student dormitory, at the place of work or at the trade union committee. It is characteristic that coupons were initially introduced as an element of the motivation system: a distinguished employee was given a coupon for the purchase of a scarce product - for example, a TV or women's boots - which rarely appeared on store shelves.

3. When was it last entered?

On December 1, 1990 - for the first time after the Great Patriotic War in Leningrad - coupons were introduced. The reason for the emergence of the card system was a shortage of consumer goods. It was almost impossible to buy these goods without a coupon, since they appeared in stores extremely rarely. However, some goods produced in excess by the state were sold, as a rule, without coupons, despite the fact that cards were issued for them. An example of this is the sale of salt.

It all ended in 1992 due to the “release” of prices, which reduced effective demand, and the spread of free trade that came after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

4. In which countries does it exist today?

For the market economy that has long existed in the United States, coupons have a slightly different meaning. As a rule, these are cards for essential goods for socially vulnerable segments of the population. Such goods are provided either completely free of charge or at reduced prices.

Such a social support tool has long existed for poor American citizens. At the same time, the food stamp in the States has a modern look: a low-income citizen receives a plastic electronic card, which is replenished monthly from state funds. The average monthly payment for this social support is $115 per person and $255 for a family.

5. Will it happen again in Russia today?

With the question of whether the card system could return to our days, we turned toAdvisor to the Institute of Contemporary Development, economist and political scientist Nikita Ivanovich Maslennikov. And this is the answer we received:

“You don’t enter the same water twice. Taking into account the mistakes of the 1980s - 1990s, a return to this practice will not take place. However, it must be borne in mind that in many countries of the world such instruments exist and work successfully. They, As a rule, they are one of the forms of support for vulnerable segments of the population. In the United States, so-called food stamps have been available for several decades.

We also have a project to introduce such a tool. It is spelled out in sufficient detail in the agricultural development strategy until 2020. Some pilot projects have been undertaken in a number of regions of Russia, but so far there are no such things as coupons as a mass phenomenon. However, I do not rule out that their introduction is possible.

This kind of tool can be a plastic card, with which you can get a discount in a store for one or another product that will comply with the legally established list. But these projects were not developed due to a lack of funds in the regional budgets. Implementing such a program will require a political decision at the federal level.

Today we can state that, firstly, this is not a repetition of the experience of the 1980s-1990s, but a completely different story. This is a form of targeted support for socially vulnerable groups. Secondly, normal application technologies have already been developed. Thirdly, there are budget constraints, as compensation to retailers will be required. Fourthly, to apply such a tool on a nationwide scale, a strong-willed decision is required."

Summing up, the expert clarified once again: in general, the same situation as during the “perestroika” period is unlikely to repeat itself. But the system, which has long and firmly existed in the United States, may well be implemented in Russia.

In September 1941, a card system for the distribution of goods was introduced in the cities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, an alternative to which in wartime conditions did not exist.

One of the Krasnoyarsk stores during the war. Source: Krasnoyarsk - Berlin. 1941-1945, 2009

Consumer goods were transported to the region from all over the country: trains with tobacco products from Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, Leningrad met with trains carrying shoes from Moscow, Leningrad, Rostov-on-Don and Novosibirsk, trains with knitted and sewing products from Belarus and again from Moscow and Leningrad. Dry goods were supplied from Odessa and Irkutsk.

The underdeveloped Soviet Union could not satisfy the consumer demand of the population. Soviet employees and workers regularly received their wages. But there was just nowhere to put it. Things necessary for everyday life, clothing, and much more, were scarce goods. You need to stand in more than one line or have friends in the trade in order to purchase a product that was fashionable at that time. Having honestly worked his shifts and received money from the cash register, the citizen could not spend it entirely. What should you do with money if you can’t buy anything with it? Inflation, which in free economic development absorbs the excess money supply, simply did not exist. There are enough products - there are many more of them. In fact, the shortage of consumer goods led to massive savings among people. The state actively tried to return excess money to circulation. For this purpose, loan programs were launched and a savings book system was promoted.

The war changed everything. Now money was taken out of the stocking, deposits were withdrawn from savings books. Thus, in Kansk on June 27, the leakage of deposits amounted to 144 thousand rubles. Salt, matches, cigarettes, flour and canned food - everything was bought. As early as June 22, bread disappeared from the shelves in many stores. “In the first days of mobilization, queues formed in Kansk stores for matches, salt and manufactured goods,- a representative of the Kansk City Committee reported four days after the start of the war. - IN There is talk in the queues that there will again be no matches, salt and food supplies, as was the case in 1940.”.

According to archival data on Krastorg's reserves as of June 26, 1941, there were still stocks of matches, salt, hardware and haberdashery in the city warehouses. For 200 thousand rubles. cultural goods accumulated, 200 thousand worth of wine, but laundry soap and tobacco products disappeared.

The country began to shift its economy to a war footing. Legislative restrictions were introduced on trade in goods that could be used for the needs of the military industry. Thus, the sale of lead seals was prohibited. The production of tin utensils has practically ceased. A rationing system was introduced to distribute food. It cannot be said that the cards greatly surprised citizens. Over the past quarter century, they have been introduced for the third time.

There was simply no alternative to the card system in those conditions. The war disrupted the natural development of the economy. The breadbasket of the Soviet Union - Ukraine - became the scene of fierce fighting. Transport supplies were disrupted - trains, river vessels, cars in tens, hundreds, thousands were mobilized for the needs of the front. The tractor that had previously pulled a plow or seeder was now dragging a gun to a position along the broken front roads. This is not enough; the village - the main supplier of food for the country - is left without workers. Millions of healthy men, who in peacetime effortlessly carried out sowing and harvesting, received weapons in their hands. They had a new, more important task - to stop the enemy, who was rushing deep into the Soviet state. The existence of a peaceful trading system could not last long. There was no food surplus in the country.

Total shortage led to famine and disaster. Under these conditions, the Soviet authorities were forced to adopt a strict centralized distribution of goods and products. Otherwise, it was impossible to feed the army, support the strength of the workers at the machine, and give the old, the sick and children a chance to survive. In conditions of a limited amount of resources, it was impossible to ensure the survival of the majority of the population, preserve the country's gene pool and, if possible, support all categories of the population in any other way.

MONETARY REFORM OF 1947 AND ABOLITION OF THE CARD SYSTEM

It was agriculture that remained the most vulnerable link in the post-war economy.

The monetary reform was a heavy blow to the countryside. On December 14, 1947, A. Zhdanov signed a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, which stated that the reform was being carried out with the aim of strengthening the ruble and removing a large amount of counterfeit money from circulation. In addition, this was to prevent speculative elements, who had accumulated significant sums during the war years, from buying up goods after the abolition of the rationing system. The exchange of old money for new ones was carried out with restrictions, namely, 10 rubles in old money for 1 ruble in new ones. The revaluation of household deposits in savings banks and the State Bank was carried out on more preferential terms - deposits up to 3 thousand rubles inclusive remained unchanged, i.e. they were revalued 1 ruble with old money for 1 ruble with new ones. The resolution of December 14, 1947 noted that “known casualties” would occur during the implementation of currency reform. It was announced that “the state takes on most of the victims. But it is necessary that the population take on some of the victims, especially since this will be the last victim.” The reform led to the forced seizure of money from anyone who had somehow accumulated significant amounts. Those who suffered were mainly those who kept their money in “boxes” outside state savings banks. Most of all among this category of the population were rural residents.

Simultaneously with the monetary reform, the card system was abolished. In the USSR this happened earlier than in other countries that took part in the Second World War. Uniform retail state prices for food and industrial goods were established. At the same time, prices for bread, flour, cereals and pasta were reduced by 10-12%; and for meat, fish, fats, sugar, salt, potatoes, vegetables and confectionery products remained at the same level. At the same time, it was noted that prices for milk, eggs, tea, fruit, as well as for fabrics, shoes, and clothing were “too low.” After the reform was implemented and the card system was abolished, prices for consumer goods became higher than the previous standardized ones, but lower than commercial ones, corresponding to market conditions. With the average wage in the country not reaching 500 rubles per month, this meant that the majority of the population would not immediately experience the “increased level of material well-being” promised by the decree of December 14. Nevertheless, the monetary reform made it possible to improve the state’s finances and contributed to the recovery of the economy as a whole.

Over the next few years, retail prices for consumer goods were regularly reduced in the USSR. As a rule, it was announced that this measure was associated with “successes achieved in the field of industrial and agricultural production, an increase in labor productivity and a reduction in production costs.” However, the basis of this policy was the transfer of funds from agriculture. To a large extent, price reductions were subordinated to political rather than economic goals. It grew out of colonial policy towards the countryside and led to an even greater deterioration in the financial situation of the peasants.

I.S. Ratkovsky, M.V. Khodyakov. History of Soviet Russia

INTRODUCTION OF CARDS

In accordance with the order of the People's Commissariat of Trade of the USSR No. 275 dated July 16, 1941, in order to establish firm order and organize an uninterrupted supply of the population of Moscow with basic food and industrial goods in wartime conditions and to avoid queues, I propose:

For food cards:

Bread, bakery products and flour, cereals and pasta.

Sugar and confectionery.

Animal, vegetable and margarine oils, meat, meat products.

Fish and fish products.

For manufactured goods cards:

Cotton, linen and silk fabrics, sewing goods.

Knitted goods.

Hosiery products.

Leather and rubber shoes.

Laundry and toilet soap.

[All other food and industrial goods must be sold without cards.]

2. Establish standards for the release of cards for bread, cereals, pasta, sugar and confectionery, meat and meat products, fish and fish products, animal and vegetable oils in accordance with Appendix No. 2.

3. Establish that the sale of cotton, linen and silk fabrics, sewing goods, knitted goods, hosiery goods, leather and rubber shoes by cards is carried out within the established norms for the sale of these goods to one hand using card coupons with the right to choose and purchase from the goods listed in Appendix No. 4, but not exceeding the following number of coupons:

For workers and technical workers....... 125 coupons

For employees........................................................ ............... 100 coupons

For dependents (including children and students) .................... 80 coupons

Household and toilet soap are sold using one-time coupons every month - 1 piece of laundry and toilet soap per card.

4. Dispensing of meat dishes and bread in canteens is carried out using food card coupons against the established norms for bread and meat in the manner specified in the attached instructions.

Order of the trade department of the Moscow City Executive Committee “On the introduction of cards for certain food and industrial goods in Moscow” No. 289 dated July 16, 1941

"KNOWN VICTIMS REQUIRED"

In the USSR, the elimination of the consequences of the war and monetary reform are not carried out at the expense of the people. The number of employed workers and employees is not decreasing. We do not and will not have unemployment. The wages of workers and employees not only do not decrease, but on the contrary, they increase, because commercial prices are reduced several times, and ration prices for bread and cereals are also reduced, which means an increase in the real wages of workers and employees.

Still, carrying out monetary reform requires certain sacrifices. The state takes on most of the victims. But it is necessary for the population to take on some of the victims, especially since this will be the last victim. The exchange of cash for new ones, due to these restrictions, will affect almost all segments of the population. However, this exchange order will hit primarily the speculative elements who have accumulated large reserves of money and keep them in “boxes”. The losses of the vast majority of workers associated with the exchange of money will be short-term and insignificant and will be completely covered by the abolition of high commercial prices and a reduction in existing ration prices for bread and cereals.

Simultaneously with the monetary reform, the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks decided to abolish the card system for food and industrial goods, abolish high commercial prices and move to selling goods at uniform state prices while reducing ration prices for bread and cereals. This creates great material benefits for the population.

The abolition of the card system for food and industrial goods will be carried out on the following basis.

Firstly. The sale of food and industrial goods will be carried out in open trade without cards.

Secondly. Unified state retail prices are being introduced to replace the existing commercial and ration prices.

Thirdly. Uniform prices for bread and cereals are set at a lower level than current ration prices, and ration prices for bread are reduced by an average of 12%, for cereals - by 10%, and compared to current commercial prices they are reduced by more than half with half times.

Fourthly. Uniform prices for other food products are mainly maintained at the level of current ration prices.

Fifthly. Uniform prices for industrial goods are set at a slightly higher level compared to low ration prices, and compared to commercial prices they are reduced on average by more than three times.

Thus, as a result of monetary reform, the abolition of cards and the transition to open trade at uniform prices, the population will receive a full ruble instead of the currently circulating ruble with reduced purchasing power. The streamlining of monetary circulation, the growth in the production of consumer goods and retail trade turnover will make it possible to reduce prices in the future, i.e. will lead to a new increase in real wages and incomes of collective farmers.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks dated December 14, 1947 N 4004 “On carrying out monetary reform and the abolition of cards for food and industrial goods”

BERIA'S SCAM

Beria admitted that before carrying out the monetary reform in 1947, he instructed Ludvigov to secretly place a significant amount of money (more than 40 thousand rubles) in various savings banks in order to avoid revaluation of money. Ludvigov carried out this criminal order of Beria (etc.).

From the Resolution of the Presidium of the CPSU Central Committee of July 1, 1954 on the draft indictment against P. A. Shariy, S. S. Mamulov, B. A. Lyudvigov, G. A. Ordyntsev, and F. V. Mukhanov

POPULATION REACTION

Since November 30, in Moscow, the demand of buyers in commercial stores for food products suitable for long-term storage (smoked sausage, cheeses, balyks, canned foods, butter, candies, tea, sugar, etc.) has increased. In this regard, by order of the Moscow office of Glavosobgastronom, these products were withdrawn from sale in all stores on the morning of November 30. The demand for vodka also increased significantly, as a result of which the stores of the Moscow office "Osobgastronom" on November 30 earned 3,000,000 rubles more compared to usual days. On December 1, stores in this system are closed due to a holiday. There are only two stores No. 5 and 19, in which the supply of products is rationed, for example, butter is sold at 100 grams per person. Since November 29, the influx of visitors to Moscow restaurants has increased. The amount of revenue of restaurants has increased several times... there is a great demand for confectionery products, especially chocolate. In the "Oriental Restaurant" some drunken people took wads of money out of their pockets and shouted: "That's how much paper"

Of the 12 Yuvelirtorg stores, only 3 stores are open on December 1. The remaining 9 stores are closed for registration. Items that had been in the display case for 3-4 years were put on sale in retail stores and sold. At the Buying Jewelry Point, only 2,000 rubles worth of gold was received from the population...

Store No. 8 had 12 pianos, of which only one was sold from October 1 to November 28. On November 30 and December 1, 11 pianos were sold. Buyers took these instruments without any interest in their quality. The same store had a large number of gramophones in stock, which on ordinary days were sold 1-2 per day, and on December 1, 100 gramophones were sold. Also sold out were 4 accordions and 12 button accordions, which were previously not in demand. On December 1, buyer demand for stringed instruments also increased: violins and expensive guitars.

For a long time, the store of the Uzbek Industrial Cooperation (Petrovsky Passage) stocked skullcaps costing from 150 to 350 rubles; On November 28, 29 and 30, all skullcaps were sold out, despite the fact that even in the summer there was absolutely no demand for them.

There is a large influx of people wanting to buy expensive things in the markets of Moscow. So, for example, a mechanic at factory No. 1 P.E. Uvarov bought a piece of dark blue wool for 3,500 rubles. When asked where he got that kind of money, he explained that he sold a cow (...)

From conversations among the population and from letters sent from Leningrad, the rumors spread boil down to the following:

a) from December 15, bread cards will be abolished and average prices between commercial and card prices will be established. An assumption is made regarding the norms for the release of products and goods into one hand;

b) from December 15 to December 30, monetary reform will be carried out. At the same time, all money will change with the exchange rate of replacing one ruble of new ones for two rubles of old. At the same time, no more than two salaries per person will change;

c) there are also rumors that the money will be canceled and there will be no replacement.

This explains the payment of salaries for the month of November ahead of schedule.

Muscovites who come to Leningrad stores to buy goods have a great negative impact on the residents of Leningrad.

[From] the data received from the peripheral bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is clear that the sources of the spread of rumors about the upcoming replacement of money in a number of cases are employees of financial authorities. Thus, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR reports that on November 30 this year. citizen Kashinchuk, whose daughter works in the Kyiv regional office of the state bank, in a conversation with his friends said: “In the state bank, which is located on Institutskaya Street, a meeting of representatives of the regional offices of the state bank took place the other day. At the meeting, in the presence of a representative from Moscow, the issue of exchange of money."

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ryazan region reports that “the spread of rumors about the exchange of money began actively after the return of trade and financial workers of the Ryazan region from a meeting in Moscow.”

Memo from the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR Kruglov on the spread of rumors about the preparation of monetary reform and the population's reaction to these rumors to Comrade Stalin I. B. to Comrade L. P. Beria to Comrade N. A. Voznesensky to Comrade A. A. Kuznetsov dated December 2, 1947.