A Gallup telephone survey of 1,000 Russians conducted March 14–May 6 found public economic pessimism at its highest level in at least 20 years. Sixty percent said their city or region's economy is worsening, 27% said it is improving and 9% said it is unchanged. On living standards, 56% said conditions are worsening, 29% said improving and 14% said unchanged. Gallup said sentiment was already weak before this month's sharp deterioration in fuel supplies. With Ukraine stepping up strikes on refine

A Gallup telephone survey of 1,000 Russians conducted March 14–May 6 found public economic pessimism at its highest level in at least 20 years. Sixty percent said their city or region's economy is worsening, 27% said it is improving and 9% said it is unchanged. On living standards, 56% said conditions are worsening, 29% said improving and 14% said unchanged. Gallup said sentiment was already weak before this month's sharp deterioration in fuel supplies. With Ukraine stepping up strikes on refineries during peak seasonal demand, many Russian regions have reported gasoline shortages.