RESEARCH AID 1950 RUBLE-DOLLAR PRICE RATIOS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE USSR AND THE US

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S01046A000500040001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 132
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 14, 1957
• Content Type: REPORT

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N? 82
RESEARCH AID
1950 RUBLE-DOLLAR PRICE RATIOS
FOR GOODS AND SERVICES
IN THE USSR AND THE. US,
CIA/RR RA-15
14 August 1957
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS
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,,-,X` 7SS-
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WARNING
This material contains information affecting
the National Defense of the United States
within the meaning of the espionage laws,
Title 18, USC, Secs. 793 and 794, the trans-
mission or revelation of which in any manner
to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
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1950 RUBLE-DOLLAR PRICE RATIOS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES
IN TIIE USSR AND THE US
CIA/RR RA-15
(ORR Project 10.824)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
S-E-C-R-E-T
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FOREWORD
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CONTENTS
II. Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Producer and
Consumer Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Summary and Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1. General Characteristics of Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Effective Dates of US and Soviet Prices . . . . . . . . . 6
III. Ruble-Dollar Ratios for End-Use Components of Gross
National Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
1. Nature and Significance of End-Use Ratios . . . . . . . . 7
2. Derivation of End-Use Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
a. Consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
b. Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(1) Producer Durables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(2) Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(3) Additions to Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
c. Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
d. Defense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3. Comparisons of US and Soviet Gross National Product . . . 21
Appendixes
Appendix A. Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Appendix B. Ruble-Dollar Ratios, by Branch of Industry . . . . 33
Appendix C. Gaps in Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Appendix D. Source References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
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Tables
. Distribution of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios, by Branch of
Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
2. 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Gross National Product
and End-Use Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Adjustment of 1950 Ruble - 1950 Dollar Ratios for
End-Use Components of Gross National Product to
1953 Ruble - 1955 Dollar Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4. 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Consumer Goods and
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Producer Durables,
Construction, and Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6. 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Selected Categories
of Producer Durables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
7. 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Various Types and
Components of Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
8. US and Soviet 1950 Gross National Product in 1950
Rubles and 1950 Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
9. Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Gross National Product
End-Use Categories and US and Soviet Gross National
Products for 1950 and 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. Soviet Gross National Product for 1950, 1953, and 1955,
in 1950 and 1953 Ruble Prices, by End-Use Category . . . . . . 26
11. Adjustments of US Gross National Product for
Comparability with Soviet Gross National Product,
1950 and 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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Page
12.
Key Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio of
Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number . . . . . .
34
13.
A Summary of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios, by Industrial
Classification . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
40
14.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Solid Fuels in
the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
15.
Weighted Price Ratios of Solid Fuels in the USSR
and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
16.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Chemicals in
the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
17.
Weighted Price Ratios of Chemicals in the USSR and the
Us .............................
50
18.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Petroleum
Products in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
19.
Weighted Price Ratios of Petroleum Products in the
USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
20.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Construction
Materials in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . .
61
21.
Weighted Price Ratios of Construction Materials in the
USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
22.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives
Products in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
64
23.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Iron and Steel
Products in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
72
24.
Weighted Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products in the USSR
and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
25.
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Nonferrous Metals
in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
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Page
26. Weighted Price Ratios of Nonferrous Metals in the USSR
and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
27. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Tractors
and Trucks in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
28. Weighted Price Ratios of Tractors and Trucks in the
USSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
29. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Metalworking
Machinery in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
30. Weighted Price Ratios of Metalworking Machinery in
the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
31. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Textile
Machinery in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
32. Weighted Price Ratios of Textile Machinery in the US . . . . 91
33. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical
Equipment and Electronics in the USSR and the US . . . . . . 92
34. Weighted Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and
Electronics in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
35? Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Communications
Services in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
36. Weighted Price'Ratios of Communications Services in the
USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l04
37. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electric
Power in the USSR and the US . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . 107
38. Weighted Price Ratios of Electric Power in the USSR
and the US . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
39. Calculation of Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Rail
Freight Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
40. Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Highway
Construction and Multistory Housing in the USSR and
the US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 112
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CIA/RR RA-15 S-E-C-R-E-T
(ORR Project 10.824)
1950 RUBLE-DOLLAR PRICE RATIOS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES
IN THE USSR AND THE US*
Summary and Conclusions
This analysis of 1950 ruble - 1950 dollar market price ratios for
final products (goods and services) common to the Soviet and the US
economies indicates that the over-all purchasing power of the 1950
ruble is approximately 6 cents if the ratios are averaged with US
weights (expenditure pattern) and about 12 cents if the ratios are
averaged with Soviet weights. If the purchasing power of the ruble
is examined for the various end-use categories of the Soviet and the
US economies substantial variations are to be found. Thus, depend-
ing upon whether US or Soviet weights are utilized in averaging the
ratios, the consumer ruble is worth 5 or 10 cents, the investment
ruble 10 or 11 cents, the defense ruble 18.5 or 20 cents. The admin-
istration ruble, for which identical Soviet-US weights were assumed,
is valued at 40 cents.
If the 1950 ruble - 1950 dollar aggregate end-use (gross national
product -- GNP) ratio is adjusted to a 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar basis
by means of appropriate price indexes., the purchasing power of the
1953 ruble can be calculated at about 8 cents (US weights) or 16 cents
(Soviet weights).
Because the application of the Soviet-weighted and the US-weighted
GNP ruble-dollar ratios to Soviet GNP estimates in rubles results in
an overstatement and understatement, respectively, of Soviet GNP in
dollars relative to US GNP, an average of the two ratios is utilized
to avoid the two extremes. The average of the 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar
GNP ratios of 6.5'to 1 (Soviet weights) and 12.3 to 1 (US weights) is
9.4 to 1. Thus 1955 Soviet GNP in 1953 rubles is converted to 1955
US dollars at the rate~of 9.4 rubles per dollar.
An analysis of ruble-dollar ratios for both consumer goods and
producer goods reveals that (1) the median ratio for consumer goods
and services of 19.8 rubles per dollar is almost 3 times greater than
* The estimates and conclusions contained in this research aid
represent the best judgment of ORR as of 1 February 1957.
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the median ratio for producer goods of 7.7 rubles per dollar and that
(2) within the category. of producer goods the median ratio for indus-
trial materials and energy items of 11.2 rubles per dollar is approxi-
mately twice-as high as the median ratio of 5.9 rubles per dollar for
machinery and equipment items.
An important factor contributing to the absolute difference between
producer and consumer goods ratios is the turnover tax levy on consumer
goods, which constituted, on the average, about 60 percent of the Soviet
retail prices in 1950. Within the producer goods category the high
ratios for industrial materials compared with the ratios for machinery
and equipment items may indicate that the technology and productive
efficiency of the machinery and equipment-producing sector is superior
to the technology and productive efficiency of the industrial materials
sector.
I. Introduction.
This research aid has the following objectives:
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1. To present, partly as a supplement to, and part as a revision
of the ruble-dollar ratio research already completed
a detailed catalog of 1950 ruble-dollar price ratios for
intermediate and final products of the US and Soviet economies along.
with supporting documentation and methodology.
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2. To construct 1950 ruble - 1950 dollar market price ratios for
end-use components of gross national product (GNP) for the purpose of
converting ruble estimates of Soviet GNP to dollars and by means of
appropriate adjustments to develop 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar ratios
for GNP.
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The extent to which these two objectives have been attained in this
research aid is heavily dependent upon previous empirical and methodol- 25X1A5a1
ogical analysis conducted by the Organiza-
tion for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC).
For serially numbered source references, see Appendix D.
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The OEEC has
.published an analysis of international comparisons of the national
product of the US with the national products of the UK, France, Ger-
many, and Italy. ~/
The need for a study of ruble-dollar ratios stems from attempts
to compare the GNP of the US and the USSR. In order to be able to
make direct comparisons of GNP for the two countries, it is necessary
to measure the product of both economies in both dollars and rubles.
The application of a set of end-use price ratios -- either ruble-dollar
or dollar-ruble -- to US GNP in dollars or Soviet GNP in rubles enables
the comparison of GNP in units of the same currency. It would be pos-
sible, of course, to utilize the official Soviet exchange rate of 4
rubles to the dollar for this purpose. The official exchange rate,
however, bears no particular relationship to the actual purchasing
power. of the ruble and, as will be seen below, grossly overstates the
actual purchasing power. The absence of a relationship between offi-
cial rates of exchange and the purchasing power of currencies was
strongly brought out in the OEEC study mentioned above.
The basic data of this research aid are 1950 US and Soviet prices
for intermediate and final products common to the US and the Soviet
economies. These data provide the basis for calculating ruble-dollar
or dollar-ruble price ratios. The calculation of such price ratios,
however, is complicated by numerous difficulties, some of which are
inherent in international price comparisons. The more important pro-
blems which must be dealt with in international price comparisons are
(1) product comparability, (2) the representativeness of the sample
of prices, and (3) the development of systems of weights for the pur-
pose of aggregating the ratios. In this research aid each of these
problems has, in certain instances, had to be dealt with somewhat
summarily due to the scarcity of Soviet statistical data. Because of
the lack of data, it becomes difficult to evaluate the impact of some-
what arbitrary assumptions which have to be made, as will become evi-
dent in II and III, below.
II. Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Producer and Consumer Goods.
1. General Characteristics of Ratios- 25X1A5a1
Ruble-dollar ratios computed by CIA for producer and
consumer goods and services are grouped by 19 categories and arranged
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by class intervals of 5 rubles per dollar in Table 1.* Several inter-
esting observations on the characteristics of ruble-dollar ratios can
be made from the data in Table 1, some of which are the following:
(a) the median ratio for consumer goods and services of 19.8?rubles
per dollar is almost 3 times greater than the median ratio for producer
goods of 7.7 rubles per dollar**; (b) within the category of producer
goods the median ratio for industrial materials of 11.2 rubles per
dollar is approximately twice as high as the median ratio Of 5.9 rubles
,per dollar for machinery and equipment items; (c) the ratios for-con-
sumer goods and services show more dispersion than the ratios for pro-
ducer goods, as do the ratios for industrial materials relative to
machinery and equipment ratios; and (d) approximately 25 percent of
the total number of ratios are equal to or greater than 15.0 rubles
per dollar.
It is also of interest to inquire into the kinds of items with
ruble-dollar ratios of an unusually high magnitude -- for example,
ratios of 30.0 rubles per dollar and greater. Producer goods falling
into this category are principally nonferrous metals and chemicals,
among which are'the following: (a) nonferrous metals -- antimony
(32.6:l),*** magnesium (31.0:1), nickel (37.1:1), mercury (+7.2:1),
cadmium (56.2:1), tin (67.9:1), and cobalt (103.1:1); and (b) chemi-
cals --hydrofluoric acid (31.7:1), phosphoric acid (39.3:1), calcium
chloride (51.1:1), ethyl acetate (63.2:1), borax (123.6:1), and ethyl
25X1A5a1 alcohol (111.5:1). -A sample of consumer goods and services shown in
Appendix A with ratios greater than 30.0 rubles per
dollar includes ham (31.7:1), canned tomatoes (17.9:1), sugar (53.6:1),
cotton towel (60.5:1), a man's wool suit (15.2:1), a woman's wool dress
(37.1:1), bed and mattress (30.5:1), pipe tobacco (11.1:1), and dry
cleaning (31.0:1).
Having summarized the substantial variations in ruble-dollar
ratios between and within the categories of producer and consumer goods,
it is pertinent to consider some of the factors which underlie this
variation. Probably the most important factor contributing to the
absolute difference between producer and consumer goods ratios is the
turnover tax which is levied on consumer goods in the Soviet economy.
* Table 1 follows on p. 5. For a listing of ratios grouped and
weighted in accordance with the US Standard Industrial Classification
by four-digit categories, see Table 13, p. 10, below. L!
** Median of ratios for industrial materials and machinery and equip-
ment items.
*** Ruble-dollar ratios in parentheses.
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Distribution of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios by Branch of Industry
Number of Ratios in Class Intervals of 5 Rubles per Dollar
Number
of Ratios
Median
Ratio
o-4.9
5.o-9.9 10
0-14.9
15.0-19.9
20.0-24.9
25.0-29.9
30.0 and Over
Solid fuels, petroleum, and electric power
38
17.0
0
1
11
20
5
1
0
Textile mill products
76
18.8
10
5
2
31
10
7
11
Lumber and wood products
89
8.1
14
50
22
2
1
0
0
Paper and allied products
6
13.2
0
1
3
2
0
0
0
Chemicals
110
15.3
6
13
34
15
12
6
24
Construction materials
48
5.1
22
12
4
8
1
1
0
Abrasives
85
2.4
84
1
0
0
0
0
0
Iron and steel
58
8.9
0
39
10.
6
2
0
1
Nonferrous metals
94
14.0
0
2
53
29
3
0
7
604
11
2
136
124
139
113
34
D
Ll
.
-
Fabricated structural and other fabricating metal products 65
5.7
18
42
4
0
1
0
0
Transportation, construction, and mining machinery
36
4.5
20
13
3
0
0
0
0
Metalworking machinery
54
3.8
36
15
2
1
0
0
0
Other machinery (except electric)
112
5.6
47
48
12
3
1
0
1
Electrical machinery and equipment
218
5.6
90
65
36
i4
6
1
6
Professional and scientific equipment
9
6.9
2
6
0
1
0
0
0
Communications equipment
6
5.6
2
2
1
0
0
1
0
Total machinery and equipment
L
1~
5.9
?12
L911
L
ls,
8
2
Food
37
27.0
1
3
5
5
_ 3
5
15
Manufactured goods
57
20.6
6
6
6
9
8
3
19
Services
19
6.9
6
7
3
0
1
1
1
Total
11i
19.8
?l
16
14
14
12
9-
35
Rail freight transport
29
3.9
24.
5
0
0
0
0
0
Total all ratios
1,246
8.2
336
211
146
54
26
L
Cumulative total
388
724
935
1,081
1,135
1,161
1,246
Cumulative percentages
31.1
58.1
75.0
86.8
91.1
93.2
100.0
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On the average, turnover taxes in 1950 constituted about 60 percent
of the retail prices of consumer goods. A lesser factor is the lower
productivity of consumer goods industries relative to producer goods
industries, stemming principally from the relatively obsolete equip-
ment of light industry.
Within the producer goods category, the high ratios for indus-
trial materials relative to those for machinery and equipment items
may reflect a possible relative superiority of the machinery and equip-
ment sector with respect to technology and_productive efficiency. That
is, the machinery and equipment sector of the Soviet economy may com-
pare more favorably with its US counterpart on the basis of comparative
technology and productive efficiency than the industrial materials sec-
tor. Because of the lack of sufficient research on comparative US-Soviet
technology, however, it is not possible either to support or to refute
this hypothesis.
2. Effective Dates of US and Soviet Prices.
The Soviet retail prices for food and manufactures are those
which prevailed. in Moscow state stores during March-December 1950.
The US retail prices for food are averages for the first quarter of
1950 for -56 large cities, and the prices of manufactured goods?are 1950
averages for the city of Chicago. The prices for services are 1950
average annual prices prevailing in Moscow and Chicago.
In general, the wholesale ruble prices utilized in this research
aid were those in effect as of 1 July 1950.* Prices in effect on 1 July
1950 differed from those in effect on 1 January as a result of 1 July
1950 price reductions for the following commodities: lumber., ordinary
shapes of rolled ferrous metals, construction materials and equipment,
petroleum products, trucks, and metalworking machinery. Also reduced were
tariffs on rail, river, truck, and animal transportation. Prices
effective 1 July 1950 for construction materials, petroleum products,
trucks, and metalworking machinery were utilized in the construction
of the ruble-dollar ratios.
In most instances the US wholesale prices were those in effect
during the first quarter of 1950. In some instances, mid-year and
annual average prices were used. The principal reason for utilizing
* See Appendix B.
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first-quarter or first-half 1950 prices for the US was to minimize the
effect of the Korean War on the relative price structure.
III. Ruble-Dollar Ratios for End-Use Components of Gross National Product.
1. Nature and Significance of End-Use Ratios.
Estimates of 1950 market price ruble-dollar ratios for end-use
components of GNP -- consumption, investment, defense, administration --
are shown in Table 2. 1
1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Gross National Product
and End-Use-Components J
Rubles per Dollar
Category
Soviet Weights
US Weights
Consumption
10.4
19.6
Food
18.1
25.3
Manufactured goods
14.5
26.4
Services (other than medical and education)
4.3
5.9
Medical services
1.5
1.5
Education
3.0
3.0
8.9
9.8
Producer durables
6.0
6.8
Construction
11.0
12.0
Additions to inventory
8.8
8.8
Defense
4.9
5.4
Administration
2.4
2.4
Gross national product b
8.3
16.4
a. For the derivation of these ratios, see 2a, b, c, and d, below.
b. For the end-use weights used to construct the GNP ratio, see
Appendix A.
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Theratios in Table 2 provide a means for assessing the purchas-
ing power of the 1950 ruble, in terms of 1950 dollars, for the various
components of GNP. Thus the consumer-ruble is worth about 5 cents (US
weights) to 10 cents (Soviet weights). The investment ruble has a pur-
chasing power of about 10 cents (US weights) to 11 cents (Soviet weights),
and an even higher purchasing power can be attributed to the defense
ruble -- approximately 18.5 cents (US weights) to 20 cents (Soviet
weights).
The 1950 ruble - 1950 dollarratios shown in Table 2 are the
appropriate-ratios-for translating 1950 Soviet GNP components in 1950
rubles into 1950 dollars. If it is desired to convert a ruble estimate
of 1955 Soviet GNP in 1953 rubles into 1955 dollars, the 1950 ruble -
1950 dollar ratios must be adjusted to reflect Soviet price changes
during 1950-53 and US price changes during 1950-55? Adjustment of the
1950 ruble - 1950 dollar ratios with these price indexes will provide
a set of 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar ratios for end-use components which
can be weighted with 1955 US and Soviet end-use components in 1953
rubles and 1955 dollars. The price indexes for adjusting the 1950
ruble - 1950 dollar ratios are shown in Table 3.*
The sharp gradations in the relative purchasing power of the
ruble between GNP components are a reflection of past and present Soviet
resource allocation policy. The armaments and machinery industries of
the USSR have long been favored claimants of resources with respect to
allocations of skilled labor, raw materials, investment funds, and tech-
nological research programs. On the other hand, consumer goods indus-
tries in the USSR have been forced into a position as residual claimants
of resources. As a consequence, the Soviet armaments and machinery
industries compare much more favorably with their counterpart US indus-
tries from the point of view of technology and productive efficiency
than do Soviet consumer goods industries with their US counterparts.
Soviet prices reflect the current stage of development of the
machine building and consumer goods industries. Generally speaking,
relative prices reflect relative scarcities in these two areas of pro-
duction -- that is, on a relative basis, machinery and equipment items
in the USSR are cheap and plentiful, whereas consumer goods are scarce
and expensive. In this sense, Soviet prices may be said to be "rational"
or economically meaningful. In the same sense the relative ruble-dollar
* Table 3 follows on p. 9.
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Adjustment of 1950 Ruble - 1950 Dollar Ratios
for End-Use Components of Gross National Product
to 1953 Ruble - 1955 Dollar Ratios
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1950 Rubles= 1950 Dollars Index Index J 1953 Rubles : 1955 Dollars J
Category
Soviet Weights
US Weights
1950 Rubles
: 1953 Rubles
1955 Dollars
: 1950 Dollars Soviet Weights
US Weights
Consumption
10.4
19.6
117.9
111.1
7.9
15.0
Investment
8.9
9.8
108.1
114.3
7.2
7.9
Defense
4.9
5.4
108.9
115.5
3.9
4.3
Administration
2.4
2.4
96.5
112.4
2.2
2.2
Gross national
product a!
8.3
16.4
6.6
a. For the end-use weights used to construct the 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar GNP ratio, see Appendix A.
b. 5
c. GNP deflators constructed by US Department of Commerce. J
d. 1953 ruble - 1955 dollar ratios for GNP categories are calculated by the following formula:
Column (1)
Column (2) x Column (3)
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ratios for consumption goods as against the ratios for investment and
defense may be viewed as economically meaningful.
A problem that remains to be dealt with, however, is which
ratio should be selected for the conversion of Soviet GNP to dollars --
the Soviet-weighted ratio, the US-weighted ratio, or a combination of
the two. There are two available alternatives for determining the size
of Soviet GNP relative to US GNP. Final products of the USSR can be
valued in dollars and compared with US GNP in dollars, or, alternatively,,
final products of the US can be valued in rubles and compared with Soviet
GNP rubles. If both the composition of final product and the relative
price -structure are thesame for the two countries, then either method
would show the same proportion between Soviet and US GNP. In fact, the
same proportion will be obtained under the less stringent condition
that only the relative price structure or the composition of the pro-
duct be identical. Because both the relative price structure and the
composition of output are different for the US and,the USSR, however,
two different answers will be obtained for the relative size of Soviet
and US GNP.
In valuing the national product of the USSR in dollars and that
of the US in rubles, an upward bias is imparted to the national product
of each in the-event of an inverse relationship between the price ratios
and the quantity ratios* for the two countries, for an inverse relation-
ship between price and quantity ratios means that relatively high (low)
prices are being applied to relatively large (small) quantities when
each country's output is valued in the prices of the other. To eluci-
date further the statisticaland economic aspects of this inverse rela-
tionship, it is useful to carry out -a-sample calculation.
Consider the problem of comparing the value of output of wine
and beer in France and the UK. Hypothetical data for the prices and
quantities of these two commodities are the following:
po q-o pl ql
Wine 2 4 4 3
Beer 3 1 2 5
where po and qo represent French prices and quantities and pl and ql
represent British prices and quantities. Note that an inverse relation-
ship exists between the price and quantity ratios. Therefore,, in
* A quantity ratio for a given commodity is obtained by dividing
Soviet output by US output.
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valuing the French output of wine and beer in pounds, for example, a
relatively large French quantity, 4 units of wine, is multiplied by
a relatively high British price, 4+ pounds, and a relatively small
French quantity, 1 unit of beer, is multiplied by a relatively low
British price, 2 pounds. It is this direct application of relatively
high (low) prices to relatively large (small) quantities which results
in an overstatement of French output in pounds relative to British out-
put*in pounds.
The economic rationale of the inverse relationship between the
price and quantity ratios for wine and beer is clear. Both countries
emphasize the production of commodities which they can produce most
cheaply -- beer in the UK and wine in?France.
Carrying through the valuation of each country's output in
both francs and pounds, the following four value measures of output
are available:
E po
qo =
11
= French output
in francs
E Po
ql =
21
= British output
in francs
.E pl
60 =
18
= French output
in pounds
E Pl
q1 =
22
= British output
in pounds
Thus the franc comparison shows that French output is about 50 percent
of British output, and the pound comparison reveals that French output
is about 80 percent of British output. But on the basis of the dis-
cussion above it is concluded that the output comparison in francs
understates the size of French output relative to British output and
that the output comparison in pounds does just the opposite.
As stated initially, the upward bias imparted to the national
product of each country by valuing it in the prices of the other is a
resultant of an inverse relationship between price and quantity ratios25X1A5a1
What empirical evidence is available, therefore, on the. existence of
an inverse relationship? in a study of 1950 ruble-dollar ratios
for consumer goods and services, has found that price ratios correlate
inversely with quantity ratios. J1 This finding was in agreement with
similar results obtained by Gilbert and Kravis in their study of com-
parisons of US national product with each of the national products of
the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. / Thus, although, the existence
of an inverse relationship underlying US-Soviet comparisons of the
investment and defense components of GNP remains to be demonstrated,
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it will be assumed for the purpose of this research aid that an inverse
relationship does prevail.
25X1A5a1
Granting this assumption, comparisons of the relative size ofa
Soviet and US GNP by means of Soviet-weighted and US-weighted price
ratios lead to an overstatement -and understatement, respectively, of
Soviet GNP. To avoid these extremes of estimation, an average of the
two ratios may be employed. It should be pointed out, however, that
there is no economic meaning that can be imparted to the average ratio,
which is in fact a hybrid. Of course, if the spread between the two
ratios is fairly narrow, little obscurity is introduced by recourse to
an average ratio. If the spread is substantial, however, as is the
case with the US-weighted and Soviet-weighted ruble-dollar ratios, there
can be no unambiguous economic interpretation of the average ratio.
It is probable, moreover, that the gap between the Soviet-
weighted and the US-weighted ruble-dollar ratio would become larger
as the sample number of ruble-dollar ratios for end items increased.
This would be due to a tendency for the product mixes of the USSR and
the US to become increasingly dissimilar as the output of each country
was considered in greater detail.. The increasingly greater dissimilar-
ities in product mix would in turn be simply a manifestation of under-
lying differences in tastes, re-source endowment,, and technology.
2. Derivation of End-Use Ratios.
a. Consumption. -
Ruble-dollar ratios for the consumption sector of GNP are
based primarily upon detailed comparisons of US and Soviet prices for
food, manufactured goods, and services conducted 25X1A5a1
Ruble-dollar ratios for medical services andeducation which
-computed by CIA for a man's wool suit, a woman's wool dress, and civil-
ian radio receivers. See Appendix A for the revised ratios.
were not included have also been computed. 25X1A5a1
studies include ratios for 37 food items, 57 manufactured goods, and 25X1A5a1
17 services.* The ratios for manufactured goods are based on (1) Soviet
retail prices effective in Moscow state stores during March-December
1950 and (2)US average 1950 retail prices effective in the city of
Chicago. Both the Moscow and Chicago prices are representative of
prices in other large cities of the two countries. Prices for services
25X1A5a1
studies have been adjusted to take account of revised ratios
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25X1 A5a1
(other than medical and education) are average annual prices prevailing
in Moscow and Chicago. Soviet retail food prices are those in effect
in Moscow state stores during March-December 1950. US food prices are
average first-quarter 1950 prices for 56 large cities.
The construction of ruble-dollar ratios for food items is
complicated by the existence of two general sets of food prices in the
USSR -- prices prevaili in state stores and prices effective on the
collective farm market. a limited amount of
comparative price data for these two sectors for the Moscow area)
which tends to show that collective farm market prices are not appreci-
ably higher than state store prices. Such a similarity of prices may
not prevail for other areas of the USSR.
The estimation of ruble-dollar ratios for medical services
and education is a problem which must be resolved largely on the basis
of arbitrary assumptions. This situation is due, in part, to the fact
that most medical and dental services are available to the Soviet popu-
lation without charge and to the lack of data on fees charged by doc-
tors who supplement incomes by engaging in private practice. In the
case of education, tuition fees do not accurately reflect the costs of
educational services. In this circumstance the possibility of construc-
ting ruble-dollar ratios on the basis of the costs of medical service
ana education must be considered. This procedure involves the estima-
tion of ruble-dollar ratios for the various input categories such as
wages, materials, heat, and light. An important assumption must be
made, however,,with respect to ruble-dollar ratios for wages. The
assumption is that the productivity of doctors and teachers is the same
for the USSR and the US. Because it is exceedingly difficult to define
and measure the productivity of doctors and teachers (differences in
quality of service are extremely important in this area), it is more
or less impossible to test the validity of this assumption. Neverthe-
less, the assumption is arbitrarily made in the construction of ruble
dollar ratios for medical and educational services.
A ruble-dollar ratio for the wage costs of medical services of
1.5 to 1 was computed on the basis of estimated 1950 average wages for
medical personnel (physicians and surgeons, dentists, and nurses) in
the US and the USSR. A 1950 average wage of 5,770 rubles for Soviet
medical personnel was obtained by moving the 19+1 plan average wage
for medical personnel of 3,120 rubles to 1950 on the assumption that
average wages for this category increased during 19+1-50 by the same
estimated percentage above 19-1 as did wages for the national economy --
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85 percent. 10 An average 1950 wage of $5,260 for US medical personnel
was obtained by computing a weighted average of the incomes of physi-
cians and surgeons, dentists, and nurses.* The ratio of 1.1 to 1 which was
obtained by dividing the Soviet wage by the US wage was then adjusted
upward to 1.5 to 1 to take into account incomes which are received from pri-
vate practice in the USSR and which are not included in the Soviet
average wage statistic. For the remaining input categories of medical
-services, such as drugs, medical supplies, food for hospitals, heat,
and. light, it was assumed that the averageratio for consumer goods
andservices other than medical and educational services would apply.
A ruble-dollar ratio for education was computed in a simi-
lar manner. An estimated average 1950 wage of 8,000 rubles for educa-
tion personnel in the USSR was obtained by starting with a 1941 plan
average wage for education personnel of 4,330 rubles and assuming that
average wages for this category increased by the same percentage above
1941 as did wages for the national economy -- 85 percent. The 1950
average wage for education personnel in the US was estimated to be
$2,700.* The ratio of the Soviet average wage to-the US average wage
was then calculated to be 3.0 to 1. The ruble-dollar ratio for the remain-
ing inputs to education, as in the case of medical services, was assumed
to be the same as that for consumer goods and services other than med-
ical and education services.
Ruble-dollar ratios for food, manufactured goods, and ser-
vices are shown in Table 4.** The Soviet weights for food, manufac-
tured goods, and services (other than medical and education) are for
1937,*** and the US weights are for 1950. The Soviet weights for com-
modities are based on data on the structure of retail sales in 1936,
1937, and 1938. The weights for services were extrapolated from 1928
weights which are based upon 1927-28 budget studies of Soviet urban
workers conducted by the USSR. The US weights are based upon Bureau
of Labor Statistics data on the relative importance of items in the
BLS Consumer Price Index.
The average ratio for medical and education services was
calculatedby weighting the individual ratios for medical and -educa-
tion services by 1950 expenditures for both countries. The ratio for
For data and methodology, see Appendix A.
ollows on p. 15.
developed a set of 1952 weights, but they are believed
to be less reliable than those for 1937. ll
25X1A5a1
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Table 4
1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Consumer Goods and Services
Rubles per Dollar
Consumption Category Soviet Weights US Weights
Food 18.1 25.3
Manufactured goods 14.5 26.4
Services (other than medical and education) 4.3 5.9
Medical and education services 2.3 2.4
Consumption (other than medical services
and education) 13.5 20.4
Total consumption 10.4 19.6
medical and education services was then combined with the ratio for
consumption (other than medical and education services) on the basis
of 1950 expenditures data for both categories.*
b. Investment.
Weighted ruble-dollar ratios were calculated for the three
principal categories of investment -- producer durables, construction,
and additions to inventory. Ruble-dollar ratios for producer durables,
construction, inventories, and total investment are shown in Table 5.
1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios
for Producer Durables, Construction, and Inventories
Rubles per Dollar
Category
Soviet Weights
US Weights
Producer durables
6.0
6.8
Construction
11.0
12.0
Inventories 8.8 8.8 a/
Total investment / 8.9 9.8
a. Median of all ratios except all services and electric power.
b. For the weights used to construct the ratio for total invest-
ment, see Appendix A.
For data and methodology, see Appendix A.
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(1) Producer Durables.
The producer durables ratio is based upon an extensive
sample of machinery and equipment items -- a total of 289 ratios. An
approximation of the coverage of the sample with respect to US output
can be gained by comparing 1947 purchases of producer durables
for the categories represented in the sample -- $6.8 billion --
with total producer durables expenditures in the US in 1947 --- $16.7
billion. 12/
There are some significant omissions from the machinery
and equipment sample. Not included in the sample are agricultural mach-
inery (other than tractors)., locomotives and railroad equipment, com-
mercial aircraft, ships and boats, commercial machines, food machinery,
printing machinery, petroleum refining equipment, and most chemiOal
equipment.
Weighted ratios for the machinery and equipment cate-
gories constituting producer durables are shown in Table 6.* In most
instances the ratios within each category were weighted by 1947 value
of shipments data. These ratios, in turn, were weighted by purchases
of producer durables for 1947 to obtain an aggregate US-weighted ratio
of 6.8 to 1.
Because of the lack of Soviet gross value output data
for machinery and equipment items, it was not possible to calculate
directly a Soviet-weighted producer durables ratio. However, by exam-
ining the magnitude of the ratios for the various machinery and equip-
ment categories and by making some judgments about the relative gross
value weights for these categories in the USSR, it is possible to make
a guess of a Soviet-weighted producer durables ratio. It is probable
that sectors 1:L0, 112, 114, 116, 117, 131, 132, and 133 shown in Table
6, for which the US-weighted average is 5.7 to 1, have a substantially
higher relative weight in total producer-durables in the USSR than in
the US. On the basis of this probability, an estimate of 5.5 - 6.0 to 1
is made for the Soviet producer durables ratio.
(2) Construction.
Research that has been completed up to the present time
on comparative construction costs for the USSR and the US is insufficient
Table 7-follows on P- 17-
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Table 6
1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Selected Categories
of Producer Durables
Number J
Number
of Ratios
Type of Machinery or Equipment in Sector
Average
Ruble-Dollar US 1947 Purchases
Ratio of Producer Durables 11/
(US Weights) (Million Dollars)
Source
110
Steam engines and turbines 10
3.0 J 58.3 -
CIA
112
Farm and industrial tractors 3
7.2 J 547.1
CIA
114
Construction and mining ma-
chinery 27
5.0 466.o
25X1A5a1
116
Machine tools and metal-
working 30
5.9 577.0
CIA
117
Cutting tools, jigs, and
fixtures 24
3.5 72.2
118
Special industrial machinery 55
7.7 1,221.0
119
Pumps and compressors 5
6.5 252.6
5 2 2.6
126
Valves and fittings 19
6.5 1o6.5
130
Electrical measuring instru-
ments 18
12.4 111.5
131
Motors and generators 79
5.0 218.1
132
Transformers 81
5.1 223.3
133
Electrical control apparatus 9
5.9 325,0
145
Motor vehicles 2
7.3 J 2,618-3
CIA
Total L
6.8 6,796.9
25X1A5a1
a. Sector numbers are the industry classification numbers employed in the US 192-Sector Classifica-
tion of the US 1947 Interindustry Relations Study.
b. 14
c. Simple average of ratios.
17
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to permit the estimation of -a reliable ruble-dollar ratio for construc-
tion. Only two ruble-dollar ratios are currently available for con-
structioh "end items"- roadbuilding and residential construction.*
A limited number of ratios for various types of construction components
such as foundation construction wall construction, and excavation
work have been computed A summary of currently available
construction ratios is shown in Table 7. 25X1A5a1
1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios-for Various Types
and Components of Construction
Rubles per Dollar
Type of Construction
Blacktop highway
11.3
Multistory apartment house
15.4
-Pipelines
2.2 to 9.5
-Pile driving
9.0
Interior painting
2.3 to 9.9
Brick wall
5.2
Wood framing
2.0 to 5.0
Hardwood floor
3.7
Roofing work
6.3 to
37.7
Concrete work
4.5 to
6.2
Girder assembly
2.4 to
2.9
Excavating work
9.9 to
11.8
-Foundation work
4.1 to
5.9
The ratios shown in Table 7 are based upon input
requirements for labor and materials. US 1950 costs are based, in
part, upon cost data from actual jobs. Soviet 1950 costs, with the
exception of the apartment house costs, which are actual cost-s, are
based upon input "norms" for the Leningrad area. Because actual con-
struction-costs in the USSR are frequently higher than norm costs,
particularly for labor inputs, the ruble-dollar ratios in Table 7
are probably underestimated to a substantial degree. In a Soviet
For the derivation of these ratios, see Table 40, p. 112, below.
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text on the construction industry, for example, the average monthly
earnings of Soviet construction workers during 1950-51 are stated to
be about 650 rubles or in excess of 150 percent of the wage norm. 16
Principally on the basis of the ruble-dollar ratios
for highway and apartment house construction -- 11.3 and 15.4 rubles
per dollar, respectively -- and considering the high probability of
substantial underestimation of the construction components ratios in
Table 7, it is estimated that a Soviet-weighted construction ratio
would be about 11.0 rubles per dollar. It is estimated that a US-
weighted ratio would be slightly higher -- about 12.0 to 1 -- because
of the relatively larger proportion of residential construction in
the US. in comparison with the USSR. This estimate is based, in turn,
upon the assumption that the ruble-dollar ratio for residential con-
struction is greater than the ratio for industrial construction.
(3) Additions to Inventory.
The ruble-dollar ratio for net additions to inventory
is the median ratio of 8.8 rubles per dollar for the total number of
physical commodities considered in this research aid. A median ratio
for all commodities is utilized because of the sparsity of data on
the composition of commodities entering into inventory. Since addi-
tions to inventory are composed of a wide variety of items falling into
both the producer and the consumer goods categories, a median.ruble-
dollar ratio for all commodities appears to be as adequate a ratio as
can be constructed at the present time.
c. Administration.
A ruble-dollar ratio for administration of 2.4 to 1 was
computed by comparing an estimated annual average wage for administra-
tive and internal security employees in the USSR with an average annual
wage for federal, state, and local employees in the US. The average
wage for administrative and internal security employees in the USSR
was obtained by assuming that it was approximately the same as the
annual average wage-for all workers in the national economy, which is
estimated at 7,500 rubles for 1950. 1 The average annual wage for
US Government employees in 1950 was122.*
For data and methodology, see Appendix A.
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As in the case of ruble-dollar ratios for medical services
and education which were based on ratios of average wages, it is assumed
that the productivity of workers in administration in the US and USSR
is the same. In view of the many recent attempts by the Russians to
reduce overstaffing and considering what appears to be a meager equip-
ping of Soviet administrative agencies in comparison with US agencies,
it is probable that the productivity of the Soviet administrative
employee is lower than that of his US counterpart. Hence the ruble-
dollar ratio for administration may be understated.
d. Defense.
"The ruble-dollar ratio for the defense sector is based
upon a weighted average of ratios of highly uneven quality for the
various types of defense expenditures. The uneven quality of the
ratios stems partly from the uneven quality of the data and partly
from the somewhat arbitrary assumptions which had to be made with
respect to the representativeness and applicability of available
ratios in the absence of price data for certain types of expenditures.
In order to be able to gain a limited appreciation of the procedures
and assumptions involved and their impact on the reliability of the
ratios, the following categories of ratios, in descending order of
reliability, are briefly discussed:
(1) For many typesof items other than armaments, sufficient
ruble and dollar price data were available to permit the calculation of
generally representative ratios. The major items for which this could
be done are the following: personnel pay and subsistence, automotive
equipment and tractors, petroleum products, transportation, construction,
some miscellaneous supplies and services, civilian wages, pensions,
reserves, MVD-KGB personnel costs, and some research and development.
(2) For some categories of armaments a small sample of
ratios within each category was presumed to be-representative for
each category. Armaments for which this procedure was believed to be
generally reliable are aircraft, ships, and armored vehicles. Items
for which this procedure was less reliable, because of the smaller
number of ratios and lesser representativeness, are communications
equipment and installations, ammunition, electronics, and certain wea-
pons (principally towed artillery, small arms, and mortars).
(3) When prices were not available, ratios were estimated
.on the basis of known ratios, taking into account analogous technology,
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estimated differences in costs, and the like. This procedure was
followed in the case of atomic energy, guided missiles, some research
and development, some equipment spares, and other miscellaneous items.
3. Comparisons of US and Soviet Gross National Product.
On the basis of the end-use ruble-dollar ratios shown in
Tables 2 and 3*, it is now possible to compare the GNP of the US and
the USSR in market prices for 1950 and 1955. Depending upon whether
the comparisons are made in rubles or dollars, 1950 Soviet GNP is
about 22 or.42 percent, respectively, of 1950 US GNP (see Table 8**).
These widely differing comparison ratios reflect, as previously indi-
cated, marked differences in the relative price structure and the
composition of output for the two countries. Because of these fun-
damental differences underlying the comparison, any attempt to obtain
a single estimate of the ratio of Soviet GNP to US GNP must be largely
arbitrary. It is simply that there are two different ways of carrying
out the comparison.
As previously argued, however, a ruble comparison of the final
products of both countries does tend to underestimate the ratio of
Soviet GNP to US GNP, and a dollar comparison does just the opposite.
Thus, if there is any justification at all for an average ratio, it
must rest on the contention that the alternative ruble and dollar com-
parisons of Soviet and US GNP are subject to downward and upward
biases, respectively.
Ignoring conceptual difficulties, however, an average ratio
for the year 1950 would show Soviet GNP to be about 32 percent of US
GNP. For 1955 the ratio of Soviet GNP to US GNP increases to about
38 percent.
Pp. 7 and 9, above, respectively.
Table 8 follows on p. 22.
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US and Soviet 1950 Gross National Product
in 1950 Rubles and 1950 Dollars
Billion Billion
End-Use Category Rubles a/ Dollars b/
Consumption
Investment
Defense
Administration
681 65
179 20
118 24
29 12
Billion
Billion
Dollars a/
Rubles b/
205
4,018
56
543
19
103
6
14
Gross national
product c/ 1,008 121 286 4,678
a. For the derivation of the estimates for the end-use components, see Appendix A.
b. The formula for conversion of Soviet GNP in rubles to dollars is
Pl
P Pogo = P1Qo
0
where Pl represents the weighted dollar-ruble ratio (inverse of ruble-dollar ratio) for each
0
end-use category and PoQo represents the ruble estimate for each end-use category.
Similarly, in converting US GNP in dollars to rubles the formula is
Lo PLQ1 = PoQ1
LLL Pi
c. Totals are derived from unrounded figures and do not always agree with the sum of
rounded components.
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n
>_ pl Ql
i=1
n
p0 Q1
i=1
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APPENDIX A
METHODOLOGY
1. Weighting of Ruble-Dollar Ratios.
The US- and Soviet-weighted ruble-dollar ratios for the various
components and subcomponents of GNP have been computed by weighting
each individual end-product ratio with the corresponding value of
output of the end product. When US-value weights are utilized the
following calculation is performed:
(a)
n 1
P, p0 Q0
p? i i
where P?, Q? represent US prices and quantities and Pl, Q1 are Soviet
prices and quantities.
Alternatively, when Soviet-value weights are utilized the calculation
is as follows:
(b)
~ P1,Q1
i-1
n 0
Pit pit Qi
i pi
Formulas (a) and (b) are algebraically equivalent to the Laspeyres
and Paasche index numbers, the Laspeyres index number being of the form
Pi' Q'i
i=1
0
it p'0 Qt.
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The value weights employed in the calculation of the GNP ratios
for the USSR and the US are presented in Tables 9,* l0,** and ll.***
The same weighting procedures were employed in computing average
ratios for branches of industry and 4-digit industrial categories.
Gross value of production or value of shipments data were used as
weights in these calculations. The average ratios for the. branches
of industry, however, were computed only for the purpose of summariz-
ing collections.of individual ratios. These weighted ratios should
not be utilized for any other purpose than to gain summary impressions
of the extent of the variation of ratios from industry to industry.
Particular applications of industrial ratios demand particular types
of weighting -systems. 25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1 2. Revision of - Price Ratios for Manufactured Consumer Goods.
Price ratios for three major items of ruble- 25X1A5a1
dollar ratios for manufactured consumer goo s were revised as follows:
Soviet Price US Price Ruble-Dollar
Item (Rubles) (Dollars) Ratio
25X1A5a1
1,900 42.00 45.2
1,900 31.06 61.2
25X1A5a1
Woman's wool dress
CIA 559 14.95 37.4
Woman's rayon dress
25X1A5a1
513, 8.14 63.0
12.9
333.33 10.15 32.8
* Table 9 follows on p. 25.
** Table 10 follows on p. 26.
*** Table 11 follows on p. 27.
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Table 9
Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Gross National Product End-Use Categories
and US and Soviet Gross National Products
for 1950 and 1955
1950 Ruble-1950 Dollar Ratios 8
Soviet 1950
US 1950
(Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet 1955
US 1955
End-Use Category
Gross National Product J
(Billion 1950 Rubles)
Gross National Product b~
(Billion 1950 Dollars)
Soviet Weights
US Weights
Gross National Product ,
(Billion 1953 Rubles)
Gross National Product J
(Billion 1955 Dollars)
Consumption
681.3
204.8
10.4
19.6
803.6
266.7
Food
1
18.1
25.3
Manufactured goods
639.5 r
196.0 r
14.5
13.5 J
26.4
20.4 J
Services (other than medical and education)
J
4.3
5.9
Medical services (public and private)
11.8 /
3.4
1.5
1.5
Education (public and private)
30.0 3 -
5.4
3.0
3.0
Investment
179.3
56.0
Producer durables
43.6 J
21.1
6.0
6.8
Construction
107.8 J
29.7
11.0
12.0
Change in inventories.
27.9 i/
5.2
8.8
8.8
Defense
117.6
18.5
4.9
5.4
155.0
40.8
Administration
29.4
5.7
2.4
2.4
27.4
8.4
Gross National Product
1,007.6
285.0
8.3
16.4
1,250.7
387.4
a. Estimates for the four principal end use categories derived from Table 10, p. 26, below.
b. Estimates for the four principal end-use categories derived from Table 11, p. 27, below.
c. The ruble-dollar ratios for the four principal end-use categories were calculated by weighting the ratios within the end-use categories by the corresponding US and Soviet GNP expenditures
for 1950.
d. See Table 10.
e. See Table 11.
f. See 2, above and 3, below.
g. Wage bill for medical personnel (see 5, below).
h. Wage bill for medical personnel (see 3, below).
i. Wage bill for education personnel (see 5, below).
J. Wage bill for education personnel (see 3, below).
k. 18
1.
m. Residual estimate.
25
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Soviet Gross National Product for 1950, 1953, and 1955
in 1950 and 1953 Ruble Prices, by End-Use Category
1953 Gross Gross National Gross National
National Product Product Product
(Billion Growth Index Price Index,
1950 Gross
National Product
(Billion
1950 Gross Gross National
National Product Product
(Billion Growth Index,
100)
J
(
1955 Gross
National Product
(Billion
1953 Rubles)
1955 Gross
National Product
(Billion
1950 Rubles)
0
J 1
(1950=100) 1950-53
(1953=100) y
1953 Rubles)
1950 Rubles)
1953-55
1953=
End-Use Category
95
-53
1953 Rubles)
Consumption
713.7
123.5
117.9
577.9
681.3
112.6
122
1
803.6
264
7
947.4
286.1
Investment
216.8
130.7
108.1
165.9
179.3
6
11
.
119
3
.
0
155
168.8
Defense
129.9
120.3
108.9
108.0
7.
4
.
0
.
4
27
26
4
Administration
28.8
94.5
96.5
30.5
29.
6
95.
.
1
250
7
.
1;428.7
Gross national product
1,089.2
882.3
1,007.
,
.
a. 20
b. For methodology, see source 21 .
c. For methodology, see source E2/.
d. Obtained by dividing 1953 GNP in 1953 rubles by the GNP growth indexes for 1950-53-
e. Obtained by multiplying 1950 GNP in 1953 rubles by the GNP price indexes for 1950-53.
f. For methodology, see source.
g. Obtained by multiplying 1953 GNP in 1953 rubles by the GNP growth indexes for 1953-55.
h. Obtained by multiplying 1955 GNP in 1953 rubles by the GNP price indexes for 1950-53.
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Table 11
Adjustments of US Gross National Product
for Comparability with Soviet Gross National Product
1950 and 1955
End-Use Category
Consumption
Personal
Public health
Public education
Total
Administration
Total government
Less
Billion Current Dollars
b
J
National security
Public construction
Public health
Public education
Defense
Total national security expenditure
Investment
1950 1955
194.0 252.4
2.5 4.o
8.3 10.3
204.8 266.7
42.0 75.9
-18.5 -4o.8
- 7.0 -12.4
- 2.5 - 4.0
- 8.3 -10.3
5.7 8.4
18.5 4o.8
Private investment 51.2 59.4
Public construction 7.0 12.4
Foreign balance -2.2 -0.3
Total 56.0 71.5
Gross national product 285.0 387.4
a. For estimates of personal consumption, govern-
ment, national security, private investment, foreign.
balance, and gross national product, see source L4/.
b. For data and methodology, see Appendix A.
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25X1A5a1
The US price for the man's wool suit was the
midpoint of the high and low prices of $25.95 a 36.95. It is
believed that this range was not sufficiently great to compare with
the Soviet price range of 800 to 3,000 rubles. The Soviet high and
low prices appear to be those for high- and low-quality suits. A
more comparable range for US prices is judged to be from $25.95 to
$58. The price of $58 is a median of quotations obtained froni re-
tail stores in 18 large cities in March 1950 for a grade, wool suit
(13 - 13-1/2 ounces. per yard). 26
A ruble-dollar ratio for a woman's wool dress was substituted for
the ratio computed for a woman's satin rayon crepe dress. It is be-
lieved that a ratio for a wool dress would be more representative of
clothing purchases in the USSR than the ratio for a satin crepe dress.
The Soviet price is apparently for an all-wool dress of average qual-
ity. / A comparable US price is judged to be that for an all-wool
street dress of fair workmanship. L8/
The CIA ruble-dollar ratio for civilian radio receivers is a
simple average of ratios for four different types of receivers.*
Soviet 1950 prices were available for each of the four receivers. US
prices were estimated on the basis of what it would cost US manufac-
turers to manufacture the Soviet radios in the US.
Having computed revised ratios for the suit, dress, and radio,
the Soviet- and?US-weighted ruble-dollar ratios for manufactured con-
sumer goods were recomputed Revised ratios of 25X1A5a1
14-.5 rubles per dollar (Soviet weights and 2 ".rubles (US weights)
were obtained, compared with _ ratios of 14.6 rubles per dollar 25X1A5a1
(Soviet weights) and 28.2 rubles per dollar (US weights).
3. Derivation of US Average Wage for Medical and Education Personnel
in 1950.
A weighted average wage forUS medical personnel in 1950 was
computed on the basis of the employment and average income data pre-
sented in. the following tabulation (all income data are gross of in-
come taxes):
* For the individual ratios and prices, see Appendix B.
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Type of Personnel
Number of
Employees L9/
Average Income
(us $)
Total Income
(Thousand US $)
Physicians and
surgeons
178,950
,11,538 30
2,061+.7
Dentists
68,670
7,293 31
500.8
Nurses (profes-
sional)
1+03,470
2,127 32
858.2
Total or average
651,090
5,258
3,423.7
The average income for physicians, surgeons, and dentists is an
average for both salaried and nonsalaried individuals.
b. Education Personnel.
A weighted average wage for both publicly and privately em-
ployed education personnel in 1950 was computed on the basis of the
employment and average wage data presented in the following tabula-
tion (all wage data are gross of income taxes):
Number of Average Wage 3 Total Wages
Type of Employment Employees 33 (us $) (Thousand US $)
Public education 1,536,000 2,791+ 1+,291.6
Private education
Conunercial and trade
39,000
3,1+10
133.0
schools
Education, n. e. c.*
1+1+1,000
2,290
1,009.9
Total or average
2,016,000
2,696
5,434.5
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11. Derivation of US Expenditures for Medical Services and Education
in 1950 and 1955.
a. Medical Services.
Expenditures for medical services in the US are composed of
both publicand private outlays. The public outlays are the total
outlays (less construction expenditures) for health and medical ser-
vices under civilian public programs, whereas the private outlays are
restricted to professional services only and do not include expendi-
tures for pharmaceuticals, medical apparatus, and the like.
The data on public outlays are on a fiscal year basis, the
data on private outlays on a calendar year basis. An estimate of
public expenditures on a calendar year basis is made by averaging
expenditures for the fiscal years 1950 and 1951. Expenditures for
the calendar year 1955 are assumed to be approximately the same as
fiscal 1955. Data for public and private expendituresfor medical
services in the US in 1950 and 1955 are shown in the following tabu-
lation: -
Billion US
1950
1955
Public expenditures
2.5 L5/
4.o 36
4
Private expenditures
6.4 L7/
9.0 L
3/
8.9
13.0
b. Education Expenditures.
Current expenditures for education in the US in 1950 and 1955
on a public and private basisare shown in the following tabulation:
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Million US
1955
Public expenditures
Federal 2,300*
802 39
State and local 7,177 /
11,907 Ll/
Total 9,477
12,709
Less construction -1,133 /
-2,442 3
Current public expenditures 8,344
10,267
Private education and research 1,959 /
2,905
Total public and private
expenditures on current
account 10,303
13,172
Derivation of Soviet Current Expenditures on Health and Education
for 1950.
Planned 1950 expenditures on health and education as given in the
1950 Soviet budget were 22 billion rubles and 59.5 billion rubles,
respectively. Because these expenditures are inclusive of both current
and capital outlays, it is necessary to deduct capital expenditures
if estimates of current expenditures are to be obtained which can be
entered into the consumption component of GNP.
Data on Soviet capital expenditures for health and education in
1950 are unavailable. Scattered data are available, however, for 1953,
1955, and 1956 which provide a basis for 1950 estimates.- On the basis
of these data, it is estimated that about 2 billion rubles was allo-
cated for capital expenditures in 1950, an amount divided equally be-
tween health and education. The estimate of 2 billion rubles is based
on the following data:
* Average of expenditures for veterans education (Public Law 346)
for the fiscal years 1950 and 1951.
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a. The 1955 plan for school construction by the Ministry of
Urban-Rural Construction called for expenditures of 363 million ru-
bles. 47/1 Expenditures by other ministries probably raised these ex-
penditures to a total-of about 500 million rubles for 1955.
b. Capital expenditures by the union-republic ministries of
health in 1953 were 448 million rubles. L8
c. Total capital repair expenditures for 1956 for schools,
hospitals, and social-cultural institutions were plannedat approxi-
mately 2.3 billion rubles.
The wage bill for medical personnel in 1950 was obtained by mul-
tiplying the total number of workers employed in public health in
1950 -- 2,051,000 50 -- by an estimated average wage of 5,770 rubles.
The wage bill for education personnel in 1950 was obtained by
multiplying the total-number of workers employed in education --
3,752,000 51 -- by an estimated average wage of 8,000 rubles.
6. Derivation of the Average Wage for US Government Employees in 1950.
Employment Category
Number of
Employees 52
Average Wage 53
(US $)
Total Wages
(Million US $)
Federal, civil
1,436,000
3,50+
5,031.7
Federal, government
enterprises
516,000
3,512
1,812.2
State and local, non-
-school
1,948,000
2,725
5,308.3
State and local,
government enterprises
238,000
3,227
768.0
Total or average
4,138;000
3,122
12,920.2
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RUBLE-DOLLAR RATIOS, BY BRANCH OF INDUSTRY
1. Introduction.
This appendix contains the specifications, prices, and price ratios
for the commodities and services compared in the text of this research
aid.
In general, the data appearing in this appendix represent either
25X1A5a1 extensions or revisions of the ratios in the two major studies pre-
viously conducted In order that the maximum
25X1A5a1 usefulness of these data may be achieved, they should be used in con-
junction with
25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1
Revisions are reflected primarily in the substi-
tution of items believed to be more comparable or representative of
both economies. Some differences in ratios are attributable to the
fact that CIA ratios were established, in general, on the basis of
1 July 1950 prices rather than 1 January 1950 prices. It is generally
the case, however, that most 1 January 1950 prices prevailed on 1 July
1950 also.
Table 12* gives the standard industrial classification of selected
commodities and services, by SIC'' numbers, and indicates the sources
of the ratios used in the computation of the weighted
ratios summarized in Table 13.** Table 13 summarizes the number of
ratios the range of ratios, and the weighted ratios made available by
research.****
25X1A5a1
Table 13 follows on p. 40.
Text continued on p.,44.
Table 12 follows on p. 34.
Standard industrial classification.
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25X1 A5a 1 Table 12
Key to Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC a/ Number
Solid Fuels
1111, 1211, 1212 CIA. J Comparability was established on the
basis of heating values.
2241, 2291, 2298
2411, 2421, 2431,
2432, 2491
2612, 2641
2812
2819
2821
2826
Textile Mill Products
25X1A5a1
Lumber and Wood Products
25X1A5a1
Paper and Allied Products
25X1A5a1
CIA. With one exception, ratios did not differ
significantly from 25X1 A5a 1
CIA. In a number of cases prices were substituted
which are believed to be more comparable than
25X1A5a1
CIA. Ratios are virtually identical with those
shown in -- one ratio added. 25X1A5a1
CIA. Ratios are virtually identical with those
shown in 25X1A5a1
a. Standard industrial classification.
b. All items attributed to CIA are found in Tables 13 through 40 of
this research aid.
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25X1 A5a 1 Table 12
Key to Research in. the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number
(Continued)
2829
2851, 2852, 2861,
2862, 2881, 2882,
2884, 2894, 2896
2911
CIA. Ratios do not differ significantly from
those shown in, -- six new ratios
added. 25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1
Petroleum Refining
CIA. Prices for 1 July 1950 were used and Soviet
transportation charges were removed from the
price before computing the ruble-dollar ratio.
Additional items are included.
Construction Materials
1441,
1477
25X1A5a1
2952
CIA.
The data were added by CIA.
3211,
3241,
325.1
CIA.
1 July 1950 prices.
3253,
3254,
3272,
3274
25X1A5a1
3292
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
Abrasive Products
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
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25X1A5a1
Key to Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number
(Continued)
SIC No. Industrial Classification
3311,
3312, 331-3,
3321,
3323, 3391
3322
3331,
3332, 3333,
3334,
3335,
3339,
3351,
3352,
3359,
3392
3443
3481,
3489,
3494
Iron and Steel25X1A5a1
Ratios appearing in this
appendix represent primarily a selected number
of ratios from which were believed 25X1A5a1
to be representative of the iron and steel in-
dustry. This sample was selected in order to
facilitate the computation of a set of weighted
ratios for a four-digit industrial classifica-
tion based on Soviet value weights.
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
Nonferrous Metals 25X1A5a1
With the exception of the
Soviet price for cobalt, and the addition of
magnesium, data appearing in this appendix was
taken from Selected items are 25X1A5a1
duplicated in this appendix to facilitate
weighting and for the convenience of the reader.
Fabricated Structural Metal Products
25X1 A5a1
Other Fabricated Metal Products
25X1 A5a 1
Transportation, Construction, and Mining Machinery
3521, 3711 CIA. 1950 prices.
~ 25X1A5a1
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Table 12
Key to Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number
(Continued)
Industrial Classification
Metalworking Machinery
3541,
3542
CIA. 1 July 1950 prices.
3543
25X1A5a1
Other Machinery (Except Electrical)
3552
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
3519,
3553,
3554,
3559, 3561, 3563,
3564, 3567, 3585,
3591, 3593
3511
3613, 3614, 3615,
3616, 3641
3631
3651, 3661
3662
25X1A5a1
Electrical Machinery and Equipment
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
25X1A5a1
CIA. The data were expanded by CIA.
CIA. The data were added by CIA.
CIA. Data appearing in this a endix re re-
sent 1949 price data from were 25X1A5a1
adjusted to 1950 prices b using the price
index shown in and include only
those prices for tubes which were being pro-
duced in 1950. 25X1A5a1
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25X1A5a1
Table 12
Key to Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number
(Continued)
SIC No. Industrial Classification
Other Transportation Equipment
3741,
3742,
3751
25X1A5a1
-Professional and Scientific Equipment
3811,
3821
25X1A5a1
Communications Services
4811,
4821,
4899
CIA. The-data were added by CIA.
Electric Light and Power
4911
CIA. Ratios were computed on the basis of aver-
age rates by type of consumer.
Rail Freight Transport
25X1A5a1
computed ratios
based on rates for mileage blocks and CIA
computed ratios based on rates for average
lengths of haul.
Construction
CIA.
Highway and Housing.
1611,
1621,
1711,
1721,
1741,
1751,
1752,
1761,
1771,
1791,
1794
_ 25X1A5a1
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25X1A5a1
Table 12
Key to Research in the Ruble-Dollar Ratio
of Selected Commodities and Services, by SIC Number
(Continued)
Rubber Products, Plumbing and Heating Supplies,
and Scrap and Miscellaneous Industries
25X1A5a1
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A Summary of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios
by Industrial Classification
Weighted Ratio
Effective Date of Price
1950
No. of
Highest Ratio
lowest Ratio
US Mix Soviet Mix
Source
Ratios
(Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
of Ratio
Ruble
Dollar
1111
Anthracite coal
1
12.2
12.2
12.2
12.2
CIA
1 January
Average
1211
Bituminous coal
1
21.6
21.6
21.6
21.6
CIA .
1 January
Average
1212
Lignite
1
23.5
23.5
23.5
23.5
CIA
1 January
Average
1441
Sand and gravel
3
22.8
January
First quarter
2241
Narrow fabric mills
13
6.7
3.1
4.1
a
*
a
3.9 J
1 January
First quarter
2291
Felt goods, n.e.c.
5
17.0
6.7
11.2
1 January
First quarter
2298
Cordage and twine
.58
34.6
14.8
19.1
1 January
First quarter
2411
Logging
13
23.0
9.4
12.8
a/
11.9 J
1 January
First quarter
2421
Sawmills and planing mills
69
15.4
3.4
7.6
1 January
First quarter
2431
Millwork plants
5
6.5
4.3
5.2
2 5X 1 A5a 1
1 January
First quarter
2432
Plywood plants
2
5.2
2.4
3.8
1 January
First quarter
2612
Paper and board mills
5
15.4
8.8
12.5
1 January
First quarter
2641
Paper coating and glazing
1
15.9
15.9
15.9
1 January
First quarter
2812
Alkalies and chlorine
6
29.1
6.4
18.6
18.1
CIA
1 January
1 January
2819
Industrial inorganic chemicals, n.e.c.
40
123.6
5.0
18.7
CIA
1 January
1 January
2821
Cyclic (coal tar) crudes
5
27.6
11.9
20.2
19.0
CIA
1 January
1 January
2826
Explosives
2
21.3
7.1
18.4
CIA
1 January
1 January
2829
Industrial organic chemicals, n.e.c. J
11
114.5
2.4
43.7
CIA
1 January
1 January
2851
Paints and varnishes
11
17.1
3.4
8.6
1 January
First quarter
2852
Inorganic color pigments -
18
48.2
7.1
21.1
2 5X 1 A5a 1
1 January
First quarter
2862
Softwood distillation
7
37.5
30.7
34.9
1 January
First quarter
2894
Glue and gelatin
6
14.8
13.0
14.1
1 January
First quarter
2896
Compressed and liquefied gases
4
15.2
1.2
7.7
1 January
First quarter
2911
Petroleum refining
33
26.3
9.2
18.0
17.9
CIA
1 July
1 July
2952
Roofing felts and coatings
2
5.5
5.5
5.5.
5.5
CIA
i,July
1 July
3211
Flat glass
1
8.4
8.4
8.4
8.4
CIA
1 July
1 July
3241
Cement, hydraulic
1
10.6
10.6
10.6
- 10.6
CIA
1 July
1 July
3251
Brick and hollow tile
1
6.2
6.2
6.2
6.2
CIA
1 July
1 July
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Table 13
3253 Floor and wall tile
3254 Sewer pipe
3272 Gypsum products
3274 Lime
3291 Abrasives products
3292 Asbestos products
3311 Blast furnaces
3312 Steel works and rolling mills
3313 Electrometallurgical products
A Summary of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios
by Industrial Classification
(Continued)
No. of Highest Ratio Lowest Ratio US Mix Soviet Mix Source
Ratios (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) of Ratio Ruble
2 3.2
6 17.3
4 19.1
27 7.3
85 6.4
1 4.1
7 12.9
30 43.0
14 24.1
3 9.0
3321 Gray-iron foundries 1 11.6
3322 Malleable-iron foundries
3323 Steel foundries 1 10.6
3331 Primary smelting and refining of copper 1 16.2
3332 Primary smelting and refining of lead 1 14.0
3333 Primary smelting and refining of zinc 2 13.4
3334 Primary refining of aluminum 1 17.7
3335 Primary refining of magnesium 1 34.0
3339 Primary refining and smelting of nonferrous
metals, n.e.c. b/ 6 103.4
3351 Rolling, drawing, and alloying of copper 68 20.1
3352 Rolling, drawing, and alloying of aluminum 8 21.8
3359 Rolling, drawing, and alloying of nonferrous
metals, n.e.c. L/ 2 15.5
3391 Iron and steel forgings 2 16.2
3392 Wire drawing 4 14.9
3443 Boiler shop products 5 12.4
3481 Nails and spikes 13 10.2
3489 Wirework, n.e.c. 1 17 21.4
2.7
13.7
10.4
3.3
1.3
4.1
7.7
6.1
6.7
6.0
11.6
3.0 a/
15.71
15.2
4'5
2.5 a/
4.1
9.0
13.1
8.3
11.6
13.0
7.3
11.6
13.0
10.6 10.6 10.6
16.2 16.2 16.2
14.0 14.0 325X1A5a1l4.D
11.8 12.6 a 12.6 J
17.7 17.7 17.7
34.0 34.0 34.0
32.6 6o.o
9.3 13.8
14.5 16.3
14.4 15.0 a/ 14.9 a/
12.7 13.6
12.8 14.2 a/ 14.i a/
6.8 9.8
6.9 8.5 a/ 8.3 a/
2.5 6.8
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
CIA 1 January
CIA 1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
CIA 1 January
CIA 1 January
CIA 1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
1 January
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
Average
1 July
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
Firstquarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
1 January
1 January
1 January
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
First quarter
25X1A5a1
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2.9 a
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2 1 A5a1
4.3 aJ
2.4W
4.1
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Table 13
A Summary of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios
by Industrial Classification
(Continued)
Weighted Ratio
Effective Data of Price
1950
No. of
Ratios
Highest Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
Lowest Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
US Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per
Dollar)
Source
of Ratio
Ruble
Dollar g
/
JX1A5a 1
~
3494
Bolts, nuts, washers, and rivets
30
9.7
4.3
-
5.8 -a
1 January
First
r
3511
Turbines
10
5.0
0.9
3.0
CIA
1 January
Average
3521
Tractors
3
9.7
6.0
CIA
1 January
1 January
3531
Construction, mining and similar machinery
(except oilfield machinery and tools)
27
11.0
1.4
5.0
4
25X1A5a1
3541
Machine tools
22
9.3
1.5
.5
CIA
1 July
1 July
4
t machine tools)
machiner
(exce
ki
M
t
l
8
16.9
3.4
6.8
CIA
1 July
1 July
2
35
3543
y
p
ng
e
a
wor
Cutting tools, jigs, and fixtures
24
10.7
0.7
3.5
25X1A5a1
WE
1 January
J
First quarter
1 J
3552
Textile machinery
16
17.9
2.2
7.9
anuary
1
anuary
3553
Woodworking machinery
7
7.9
1.9
5.5
1 January
First quarter
4
-industries machinery
e
Pa
9
35.8
4.2
8.9
1 January
First quarter
355
3559
p
r
Special-industry machinery, n.e.c. 1
23
20.5
2.2
8.0
25X1A5a1
1 January
First quarter
3561
Pumps, air and gas compressors, and pumping
equipment
5
9.8
3.5
6.5
1 January
First quarter
3563
Conveyors
3
4.1
2.4
3.1 1
1 January
First quarter
3564
Blowers and fans
1
8.8
8.8
8.8
8.8
1 January
First quarter
3567
Industrial furnaces and ovens
1
8.1
8.1
8.1
8.1
1 January
First quarter
3585
equipment
Refrigeration
2
12.4
1o.4
11.4 J
11.3 J
1 January
First quarter
3591
,
Valves and fittings (except plumbers)
19
11.0
3.0
6.5
1 January
First quarter
3593
Ball and roller bearings
26
6.4
2.5
3.7
1 January
First quarter
3613
Electrical measuring instruments
18
27.8
2.2
12.4
1 January
First quarter
3614
Motors and generators
79
10.9
2.4
5.0
1 January
First quarter
.
3615
Power and distribution transformers
8
7.6
3.7
5.1
1 January
First quarter
3616
Switchgear, switchboard, apparatus, and industrial
CCI1LrV1D
11.0
1.7
5.9 J
6
4.1 a.
1 January
First quarter
3631
Insulated wire
38
14.1
3.0
6.2 a
5.0 aW
1 January
Average
3641
Electrical equipment for motor vehicles, aircraft, and
railroad locomotives and cars
19
74.7
12.4
26.9 J
19.9 a
_
1 January
First quarter
10.9
5.4 a
CIA
1 January
First quarter
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3661 Radios, radio and television equipment
(except radio tubes), radar and related
detection apparatus
3662 Radio tubes
3711 Motor vehicles (trucks only)
3741 Locomotives and parts
3811 Scientific instruments
3821 Mechanical measuring instruments
4811 Telephone communication (wire and radio),
'4821 Telegraph communication (wire and radio)
4899 Communications services, n.e.c. b
4911 Electric light and power
-- Rail freight transportation
other Ratios
12 Rubber products
17 Plumbing and heating supplies
a. Simple average.
b. Not elsewhere counted.
c. 1951 average prices used for the US.
Table 13
A Summary of 1950 Ruble-Dollar Ratios,
by Industrial Classification
(Continued)
1 January Average
1 January First quarter
i July 1 July
1 January First quarter
1 January First quarter
1 January First quarter
1 January Average
1 January Average
1 January Average
1 January Average
1 January 2/
Ratios (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar) of Ratio Ruble Dollar
25X1A5a1
5 17.4
22 19.1
2 8.6
4 4.9
5 8.7
4 15.2
3 6.2
1 5.1
2 25.0
2 15.4
29 6.2
25.8
8.8
10.0 13.2 a/ 12.6 J
7.5 14.1 a/ 13.2 J
6.o 7.0
3.6 4.o a/ 4.o f
3.9 6.7 J 6.2 /
3.6 9.0
4.5 5.2 4.8
5.1 5.1 5.1
13.3 14.0 14.2
14.4 14.8 15.1
2.3 4.2
4.1
3.7
25X1A5a1
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CIA
CIA
CIA
CIA
CIA
CIA
25X1A5a1
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N.A. N.A.
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
2. Solid Fuels.
Soviet coal prices are list wholesale prices f.o.b. mine for 1950,
with corresponding ash norms. Available information indicates that
actual average ash content isalmost identical with aver-age ash norms.
US coal prices are average value per ton f.o.b. mine for 1950.
An average price per energy unit (kilocalories) for both the US
and the USSR has been used in computing the ruble-dollar ratios for
coals. For the USSR the price per energy unit for anthracite coal,
bituminous coal, and lignite has been derived by weighting prices 24/
and heating values 55 by physical production 6 for all coal-
producing areas to arrive at a weightedaverage price and weighted
average heating value. The weighted average price was then divided by
the weighted average heating value (kilocalories per kilogram) to get
an average price per energy unit (kilocalories). For the US, average
prices and average heating values 57 for anthracite coal, bituminous
coal, and lignite developed by the Bureau of Mines were utilized.*
It is probable that the price per energy unit is a more reason-
able basis for comparing coal prices in the US and the USSR than the
comparative prices of similar coals, mines, or producing areas in
the two -count.ri-es, because comparisons on the latter basis fail to
take into account significant differences in heat content between
coals of the two countries.
The lack of production data on washed coal in the USSR made it
impossible to adjust average prices for cleaning. Although about one-
fifth of total coal in the USSR was washed in 1950, it is believed
that the over-all effect of this would be rather small.
Ruble-dollar ratios-have not been computed for peat and coke. The
average 1950 price for peat in the USSR was 49.7 rubles per metric ton,
and production is estimated at 36 million 60 metric tons. There is
no corresponding price for US peat as a fuel. The price of US coke
at ovens in 1950 was $14.80 per metric ton, and production was
65,969,371 metric tons. / There are no available price data on
Soviet coke..
US prices for bituminous coal and lignite are from source 58 and
foranthracite coal from source 59/-
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An aggregate ruble-dollar ratio for solid fuels was computed by
weighting individual ratios for anthracite coal, bituminous coal, and
- lignite by their corresponding'gross value. Gross values were com-
puted on an energy unit basis by converting physical production for
the US / and the USSR to energy units and multiplying by the average
price per energy unit.
Table 14* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of solid
fuels in the USSR and the.US. Table 15** gives weighted price ratios
of fuels in the USSR and the US.
3. Chemicals.
The comparability of the chemical products considered in this sec-
tion is based primarily upon standards published in the USSR which
state the analysis, percent purity, and the amounts and types of im-
purity permitted for a given grade of a specific product. Where de-
tailed specifications are not available, comparability is based on
methods of manufacture and comparable industrial use.
Ruble and dollar prices were those in effect on 1 January 1950.
There is no available information that indicates price reductions for
chemicals in the USSR on 1 July 1950.
On account of the scarcity of data relating to the chemical in-
dustry in the USSR, it has not been possible to compute value weights
for all four-digit categories. Soviet value weights have been esti-
mated for categories 2812 (Alkalies and chlorine) and 2821 (Cyclic
crudes) and for certain of the more important commodities of 2819
(Industrial inorganic chemicals, n.e.c.).
Table 16*** gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of
chemicals in the USSR and the US.
Two sets of weighted ruble-dollar ratios have been computed with
US weights -- one based on value weights for all commodities listed
in Table 17;* the other, based on value weights for commodities
only where corresponding Soviet value weights were available. Value of
shipments data for 1947 have been used for US weights unless otherwise
noted. 63
Table-14-follows on p. 46.
Table 15 follows on p. 46.
Table 16 follows on P. 47.
Table 17 follows on p. 50.
Text continued on p. 53.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Solid Fuels
in the USSR and the US
1111 Anthracite coal Comparability established on
the basis of heating values
L211 Bituminous coal Comparability established on
the basis of heating values
1212 Lignite Comparability established on
the basis of heating values
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
US Million Kilocalories Million Kilocalories (Ruble-Dollar)
Comparability established on
the basis of heating values 17.541 1.443 12.2
Comparability established on
the basis of heating values 15.888 0.735 21.6
Comparability established on
the basis of heating values 15.986 0.681 23.5
Weighted Price Ratios of Solid Fuels in the USSR and the US
Value Weights Weighted Price Ratio
Price Ratio
SIC No. Item (Rubles per Dollar)
1111 Anthracite coal 12.2
1211 Bituminous coal 21.6
1212 Lignite 23.5
2,906.1
22,663.3
20.3
408.7
1,805.0
2,489.3
13,716.8
8.1
4,141.5
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Us USSR US Mix Soviet Mix
(Million US $) (Million Rubles) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
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Table 16
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Chemicals
in the USSR and the US
Specifications J *
Price
SIC No.
Item
USSR
US
Rubles per ~/
Metric Ton J
Dollars per
Metric Ton J
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
2812
Alkalies and chlorine
Chlorine
99.5% CL2
338
52.92
6.4
Potassium hydroxide
92% KOH
Solid, 88% to 92%
1,725
166.48
10.4
Sodium bicarbonate
98% NaHCO3
USP, powdered
565
43.00
13.1
Soda ash
Dense
380
24.26
15.7
Caustic soda
Liquid
Liquid
1,480
52.92
28.0
Caustic soda
Cake 95% NaOH
Cake 98%, NaOH
1,955
67.25
29.1
2819
Industrial inorganic chemicals, n.e.c. i
Boric acid
Grade I, 99.5% H3B03
Crystals, technical
6,075
127.01
47.8
Nitric acid, weak
Grade B, 60% HN03
58.5% to 68% HN03
240
48.23 e/
5.0
Nitric acid, concentrated
Grade II, 96% HN03
94.5% to 95% HN03
650
95.09 f
6.8
Ammonium sulfate
Synthetic, fertilizer, Grade I
450
52.35
8.6
Ammonium nitrate
Grade C, 99.2% NH4N03
554
63.92
8.7
Sodium bichromate
Grade I
2,350
226.01
10.4
Sodium sulfate (salt cake)
Grade I
254 L1
24.24
10.5
Calcium carbide
Grade I
Standard generator size
1,464 /
133.34
11.0
Hydrochloric acid
Synthetic, technical,
32%
250
22.04
11.3
Sulfuric acid
75%
78%
188
15.15
12.4
Sulfuric acid
92.5%
93%
268
18.73
14.3
Sulfuric acid
Fuming, 20%
Fuming, 20%
344
20.94
16.4
Magnesium oxide
Grade I, 89% MgO
Synthetic rubber grade
8,250
661.50
12.5
Sodium silicofluoride
Grade I, 95% Na2SiF6
1,125
88.20
12.8
Aluminum chloride
95% A1C13
3,210
248.06
12.9
Zinc sulfate
Crystals, 22% Zn
1,400
100.33
14.0
Synthetic ammonia, anhydrous
Grade B, 99% NH3
Fertilizer grade
1,160
82.10
14.1
* Footnotes for Table 16 follow on P.
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Table 16
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Chemicals
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Specifications
Price
Us
Rubles per
Metric Ton ,
Dollars per"
Metric Ton
Ratio
Ruble-Dollar
Yellow phosphorus
99.5% free phosphorus
8,250
573.30
14.4
Red phosphorus
98.70 red phosphorus
Amorphous
16,350
760.73
21.5
Copper' sulfate
98.2% CuSO4. 5420
Crystals, 99%
2,380
157.11
15.1
Aqueous ammonia
Synthetic, technical, 25%
25%
350
22.18
1
15.8
Sodium sulfide
Fused, technical, Grade I
Fused
1,425
88.20
16.2
Trisodium phosphate
P04. 12420
95% Na
Crystals
1,490
82.69
18.0
Ammonium chloride
A
Grade
White, granulated
1,950
101.43
19.2
Aluminum sulfate
Grade A, 13.5% A1203
Commercial
675
33.08
20.4
Potassium chlorate
Crystals
4,000
187.43
21.3
Barium chloride
Grade A, 95% BaC12.2H20
Technical
2,210
99.18
22.3
Hydrogen peroxide
27.5% to 31% H202
35%
10,850
435.49
24.9
Sodium hydrosulfite
Grade I
12,225
463.05
26.4
Iodine
Technical, 97%
101,850
3,572.10
28.5
Sulfur dioxide
2,850
99.23
28.7
Bromine
51% Br2
7,125
235.94
30.2
Hydrofluoric acid
4o% HF
7,000
220.50
31.7 J
Sodium phosphate dibasic
96% Na2HPO4. 12 H2O
Crystals
3,000
76.62
39.2
Phosphoric acid
Calcium chloride
65% H3P04, food grade
34% liquid
75%, food grade
40%
3,900
450
99.23
9.92
39. 4
Calcium chloride
67% fused
73% to 75% solid
1,200
22.04
54.4
Calcium chloride
88% dehydrated
77% to 80% flake
2,625
24.24
108.3
Borax
50.2% Na2B407
Granular, decahydrate
4,800
38.85
123.6
Calcium arsenate
4,875
209.48
23.3
Naphthalene
Crude, Grade 4
1,440
115.76
12.4
Benzene
Refined
1,440
66.72
21.6
Xylene
1,890
78.53
24.1
Toluene
1,980
71.86
27.6
Phenol
2,880
242.55
11.9
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Table 16
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Chemicals
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Rubles per
s per
/
Ratio
SIC No.
Item
USSR
US
Metric Ton
Metric
9
Metric Ton J
(Ruble-Dollar)
2826
Explosives
Ammonite powder 8 and AP-1
Permissible types 91
Permissible types
2,300 k
325.24 J
7.1
Dynamite
62%
60%
6,800 J
319.73 J
21.3
2829
Industrial organic chemicals, n.e.c. J
Ethylene dichloride
97% C2R4Cl2
425
176.40
2.4
Carbon tetrachloride
96% CC14
3,265
176.40
18.5
Acetic acid
Technical, purified, 80%
Commercial, 80%
3,910
207.27
18.9
Methanol
Synthetic, Grade I
Synthetic
2,175
87.00
25.0
Formaldehyde
Technical, 40%
2,200
81.59
27.0
Acetone
Synthetic, Grade I
6,000 J
165.38
36.3
Butyl acetate
14,200
264.60
53.7
Ethyl acetate
12,900
203.96
63.2
Butyl alcohol
18,100 p/
264.60
68.4
Acetic anhydride
24,000
253.58
94.6
Ethyl alcohol
88.20/decal-
iter qJ
.77/decaliter
114.5
a. When detailed specifications are omitted, comparability is based on methods of manufacture, comparable specifications, and comparable indus-
trial use.
b. Unless otherwise noted, Soviet prices are taken from source 64 .
c. Unless otherwise noted, US prices are taken from source J.
d. Not elsewhere counted.
e. Estimated on the basis of the price for 40? acid as of February 1950 and the price relationship of that type to those types listed as of
Adjusted to 100% basis.
Adjusted on the basis of acetylene yield.
Price quoted at $80 to $81, anhydrous basis.
Estimated on the basis of prices for 30%, 70%,
According to a Soviet periodical, that type is
El/
Price
n. 68/
o.
and anhydrous grades.
used for blasting in gaseous and dusty coal mines.
p. Price probably reflects turnover tax. Available evidence indicates that raw materials used for alcohol production (grain, molasses,
potatoes) are subject to a turnover tax. The magnitude of the tax is not known. Price taken from source 0
q. Probably reflects turnover tax. See footnote pf.
49
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Weighted Price Ratios of Chemicals in the USSR and the US
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
2812
Alkalies and chlorine
Chlorine
6.4
31.2
63.2
Potassium hydroxide
10.4
6.8
39.6
Sodium bicarbonate
13.1
5.4
31.0
Soda ash
15.7
57.6
290.3
Caustic soda, liquid
28.0
55.8
560.1
Caustic soda, cake
29.1
10.2
2819
Industrial inorganic chemicals, n.e.c. J
Boric acid
47.8
3.3
Nitric acid
5.9 J
4.7
414.o
Ammonium sulfate (synthetic)
8.6
9.1
56.6
Ammonium nitrate (fertilizer grade)
8.7
45.2
912.6
Sodium bichromate
10.4
11.3
Sodium sulfate (salt cake) 10.5
10.7
Calcium carbide 11.0
29.7 e/
268.0
Hydrochloric acid 11.3
9.4
Sulfuric acid, chamber 12.4
21.4
Sulfuric acid, contact 14.3
6o.3
Sulfuric acid, fuming 16.4
7.5
Magnesium oxide 12.5
7.0 gf
Sodium silicofluoride 12.8
1.9
Aluminum chloride i2.9
2.2
Zinc sulfate 14.0
1.3
Synthetic ammonia, anhydrous 14.1
23.6
Synthetic ammonia, aqueous 15.8
1.5
Phosphorus 18.0 /
13.6
Copper sulfate 15.1
9.6
Sodium sulfide 16.2
3.4
* Footnotes for Table 17 follow on p. 52.
S-E-C-R-E-T
US Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
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Table 17
Weighted Price Ratios of Chemicals in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Price Ratio US USSR US Mix Soviet Mix
SIC No. Item (Rubles per Dollar) (Million US..$) (Million Rubles) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
2819 (Cont'd) Ammonium chloride
Trisodium phosphate
Aluminum sulfate
Potassium chlorate
Barium chloride
Calcium arsenate
Hydrogen peroxide
Sodium hydrosulfite
Iodine
Sulfur dioxide
Bromine
Hydrofluoric acid
Sodium phosphate, dibasic
Phosphoric acid
Calcium chloride,, liquid
Calcium chloride, solid
Calcium chloride, flake
Borax (sodium borate)
2821 Cyclic (coal tar) crudes 1
19.2 3.7
18.0 11.9
20.4 13.8
21.3 2.2
22.3 1.3 93.6
23.3 1.9 34.1
24.9 6.9
26.4 7.4
28.5 1.1 30.6
28.7 2.3
30.2 0.2
31.7 4.2
39.2 3.0
39.3 5.8
45.4 0.4
54.4 0.2
108.3 4.9
123.6 7.3
45.6 667.4 1/ 20.2 aJ
Naphthalene 12.4 9.7 102.2
Benzene 21.6 24.8 319.1
Xylene 24.1 2.0 34.8
Tuolene 27.6 6.9 150.5
Phenol 11.9 2.2 / 6o.8
2826 Explosives
83.3 18.4 aJ
Permissible explosives 7.1 17.0
High explosives other than permissible 21.3 66.3
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Weighted Price Ratios of Chemicals in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
SIC No.
Item
(Rubles per Dollar)
Industrial organic chemicals, n.e.c. c/ J
Ethylene dichloride
2.4
Carbon tetrachloride
18.5
Acetic acid
18.9
Methanol
25.0
Formaldehyde
27.0
Acetone
36.3
Butyl acetate
53.7
Ethyl acetate
63.2
Acetic anhydride
94.6
a.
b.
C.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
1.
M.
n.
(Million US $)
(Million Rubles)
4.2 n/
8.3
13.8
12.7
13.9
21.0
20.0
10.9
18.5 J
Based on values for all commodities.
Based on values for commodities where a corresponding Soviet value appears.
Not elsewhere counted.
Average of ratios for weak and concentrated acid.
Value of shipments for "other calcium compounds," the major part of which is calcium carbide.
Ratio for tower acid.
Value of shipments-for "magnesium compounds."
Average of ratios for yellow and red phosphorus.
1947 US values for entire 2821 category from Li/.
Includes small amount from petroleum sources.
Includes natural phenol from petroleum.
1947 US values for entire 2826 category from source
1947 US values for entire 2829 category from source
(Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar)
43.7 J
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4. Petroleum Products.
Detailed specifications for petroleum products are lacking. It
is, therefore, difficult to make exact comparisons of US and Soviet
petroleum products. Often it has been necessary to make rough ap-
proximations in selecting the US product most comparable to a given
Soviet product. For example, prices are given for "automotive gaso-
line," whereas there are a number of grades of automotive gasolines
in both countries. In the case of "motor oil M and T," comparability
with a US product can be only approximate, as viscosity data are not
given.. A US grade believed to be most representative of Soviet out-
put was therefore selected for comparison.
With the exception of the "petroleum asphalt and semiasphalt"
category, prices for US petroleum products are average June 1950
prices. / Available Soviet prices are wholesale release prices
effective on 1 July 1950. 75 These prices are known to include
transportation charges and turnover tax. On the basis of an analysis
of available information, Soviet transportation charges have been
removed from the prices before computing ruble-dollar ratios in the
manner described below.
An examination of Soviet prices shows that for a number of mis-
cellaneous petroleum products such as transmission grease, condenser
oil, and petrolatum, the Russians have one fixed price. For more
important products, however, the country is divided into price tones.
Comparison of zonal prices with the areal composition of the zones as
given in the price handbook indicates that for each of different
groups of products, Baku (the largest petroleum-refining center in
the USSR) is located in the zone having the lowest price. The price
zones generally appear as broad bands radiating from the Baku price
zone, with prices increasing as the zone distances from Baku increase.
The areal composition of the zones and the size of the respective
price increments suggest that those increments derive either entirely
or in part from increasing transportation charges. In computing
f.o.b. refinery prices for all products, it has been assumed that the
differences in zonal price increments are due entirely to transporta-
tion charges. Since transportation charges are included in all prices,
it is clear that for each product some price below the lowest zonal
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price must be derived in order to more closely-approximate-an f.o.b.
refinery price. For each petroleum product, there has been deducted
a sum equal to the ruble increment from the lowest zone to the next
higher zonal price. The resulting price is assumed to be the f.o.b.
refinery price, inclusive of turnover tax.
On account of the absence of official Soviet gross value data for
petroleum products, production and consumption estimates have been
used in estimating value weights.
US value weights have been computed by multiplying physical pro-
duction 76 by the price used in computing the ruble-dollar ratio.
Then production data were available only for broad categories or
groups of products, the corresponding-prices have been averaged for
the computation of value weights.
Table 18* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of petroleum
products in the USSR and the US. Table 19** gives weighted price ratios
of petroleum products in the USSR and the US.
5. Construction Materials.
Ruble-dollar ratios were computed for five construction materials,
basic to both the US and Soviet construction industries. These mate-
rials are asbestos cement shingles (for siding), brick, cement, flat"
glass, and roofing felt. Comparability of most of the products in
this category, particularly glass and cement, is believed to be very
good. Bricks are comparable, with the exception that Soviet stand-
ard sizes are larger than US standard sizes.
Ruble and dollar prices used in computing the-ruble-dollar ratios
were those in effect as of 1 July 1950 with the exception of some
1 January 1950 prices which have been adjusted to a 1 July 1950 basis.
Prices of some of the materials in this section are quoted on the
basis of specific sales zones within the USSR. (This system probably
reflects different costs in production and transportationwithin the
USSR). As no Soviet data were available on which to choose prices
for comparative conditions in the US, the prices in each country were
arranged in their order of magnitude. The highest Soviet price was
compared with the highest US price, and so on through the series tom
Table-17-follows on p. 55?
Table 19 follows on p. 58.
* Text continued on p. 60..
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Table 18
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Petroleum Products
in the USSR and the US'
SIC No. Item USSR
US
2911 Petroleum refining
Aviation gasoline B-100 and above
B-78
B-74
B-70
Motor gasoline Auto gasoline (etlxylated)
Special gasoline for ZIS-110
White spirit
Gas oil (diesel
fuel)
Diesel fuel
Solar oil
Motor fuel
Machine oil S
Machine oil L
Machine oil SU
Diesel oil
Turbine oil L and UP
Compressor oil M
Compressor oil T
100/130 Gulf Coast cargoes
91/96 Gulf Coast cargoes
Average of 91/96 and 80 octane, Houston
Average of 91/96 and 80 octane, Houston
Regular 80 octane, Oklahoma, Group 3
Regular 82 octane, Oklahoma, Group 3
Mineral spirits, f.o.b. Group 3
Average 43-47 and 48-52 diesel index gas oil, Gulf Coast
cargoes
Light diesel. Ships bunkers (45 cetane 45 diesel index)
(ex lighterage), Houston
Heavy diesel. Ships bunkers (ex lighterage), Houston
Pale Neutral Oils Conventional Vis @ 100?F, 0-10 Pour Point.
180 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
150'Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
200 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
200 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
250 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
300 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
150 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
280 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
300 Vis. No. 3 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
Rubles per
Metric Ton
Dollars per
Metric Ton
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
1,149
60.31
19.1
1,000
55.63
18.0
936
55.33
16.9
904
55.33
16.3
720
36.49
19.7
960
36.54
26.3
548
37.04
14.8
24.06
15.0
228
24.77
9.2
238
22.86
10.4
428
36.38
11.8
448
34.88
12.8
688
36.75
18.7
456
38.22
11.9
844
20.42
20.9
608
34.88
17.4
680
39.69
17.1
848
40.42
21.0
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Table 18
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Petroleum Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
US Metric Ton Metric Ton (Ruble-tDollar)
Spindle oil AU
Spindle oil 2
Spindle oil 3, refined
Special avtol for ZIS-110
Avtol 4-8
Avtol 10-18
Cylinder oil 2
Cylinder oil 6
Bright stock, plain
Residual and Furnace mazut
others Fleet mazut
Oily mazut
Pale Neutral Oils Conventional Vis. @ 100?F
200 Vis. No. 2-3 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
100 Vis. No. 1 1/2-2 1/2 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
100 Vis. No. 1 1/2-2 1/2 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
2,000 Vis. No. 4 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
500 Vis. No. 2 1/2-3 1/2 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
1,200 Vis. No. 3-4 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
2,000 Via. No. 4 color, South Texas f.o.b. refineries
Pale Neutral Oils Conventional Vis. @ 100?F, 0-10 Pour Point
86-110 Vis. No. 2 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
60-85 Vis. No. 2 color, f.o.b. Tulsa
Bright Stocks (Conventional).
Average of 150-160 Vis. @ 210?F, 10-25 pour point; and 120?F,
0-10 pour point f.o.b. Tulsa.
56o
416
860
688
688
440
542
33.01
17.0
30.07
13.8
30.07
13.0
44.77
19.2
37.42
18.4
32.31
13.6
31.52
17.2
52.42
11.49
19.1
11.49
20.0
15.32
18.6
Bunker C fuel, Gulf Coast cargoes 220
Bunker C fuel, Gulf Coast cargoes 230
No. 5 fuel (0-10 pour point), Gulf Coast cargoes 285
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Petroleum Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
US Metric Ton Metric Ton
(Ruble-Dollar)
2911 (cont'd) Petroleum asphalt and semiasphalt Slow-curing free from water 212 20,53 of 10.3
SC-1 Vis. 75-150 (122? S.F.); 150+ flash point 0?F
SC-2 Vis. 100-200 (14o? S.F.); 175+ flash point 0?F
SC-3 Vis. 250-500 (140? S.F.); 200+ flash point 0?F
SC-4 Vis. 125-250 (180? S.F.); 225+ flash point 0?F
White paraffin 124-126 Amp. Wax, white crude scale, W. Pennsylvania, tank
cars in bulk 1,212 77.21 15.7
a. Average price of the four items shown in the specifications. Prices are first-quarter 1950 manufacturers' prices.
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Table 19
Weighted Price Ratios of Petroleum Products in the USSR and the US
Value Weights
Weighted Ratio
SIC N
Item
Price Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
US Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
o.
2911
Petroleum refining
7,508.0
13,388.2
18.0
17.9
Aviation gasoline
356.9
928.8
18.7
18.4
B-100 and above
19.1
278.4
643.9
B-78
18.0 a/*J
B-74
16.9 a/ J
78.5
284.9
B-70
16.3 ~a J
Motor gasoline
4,o86.9
3,330.0
20.3 .1
20.2
Auto gasoline (ethylated) 19.7 /
2,932.7
Special gas for ZIS-110 26.3 /
347.7
White spirit 14.8 a/
49.6
Kerosine
426.5
4,267.9
17.3
17.3
Diesel fuel
1,271.2
763.4
11.5 c/
13.3
Diesel fuel 15.0 /
576.2
Solar oil 9.2 /
6o.6
Motor fuel 1o.4
126.6
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Table 19
Weighted Price Ratios of Petroleum Products in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio
Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
2911
Lubricants
276.7
1,179.4
(cont'd)
Machine oil S
11.8 -/ J
Machine oil L
12.8 J J
140.2
Machine oil SU
18.7 aJ
Motor oil M and T
11.9 /
75.5
Diesel oil
20.9 /
192.2
Turbine oil L and UT
17.4 J Y.
Compressor oil M
17.1
29.5
Compressor oil T
21.0 a J
Spindle oil AU
17.0 a
Spindle oil 2
13.8 aJ J
94.4
Spindle oil 3, refined
13.0 J b
Special Avtol for ZIS-110
19.2
Avtol 4-8
18.4 J J
462.6
Avtol 10-18
15.9 J J
Cylinder oil 2
13.6 / J
101.6
Cylinder oil 6
17.2 J J
Bright stock, plain
19.2 a]
83,4
Residual and others
1,089.8
2,918.7
Furnace mazut
19.1 aJ
1,881.9
9
Fleet mazut
20.0 J J
849?0
Oily mazut
18.6 / J
845.5
Petroleum asphalt and semi-
asphalt
10.3
197.2
111.6
White paraffin
15.7
43.6
79.7
a
? Ruble-dollar ratios used in the computation of weighted ratios for a US mix.
b. Ruble-dollar ratios used in the computation of weighted ratios for a Soviet mix.
C. Simple average.
US Mix
Soviet Mix
Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar)
16.4 c/
16.8
17.4
18.5
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the lowest price in each country. The arithmetic average of these
prices was used in computing the ruble-dollar ratio. This method was
used for several Soviet price zones for brick and cement.
In the case of,glass,.Zone I prices were compared with New York
average prices for single- and double-strength glass. Assuming equal
production of the two, the arithmetic average of the price was used in
computing the ruble-dollar ratio.
For the US the values of shipments for 1950 have been used as
weights for roofing felt, flat glass, and asbestos cement shingles. 1_11
Value weights for cement and brick have been computed by multiplying
production data from sources _! and /, respectively, by unit prices.
All Soviet value weights are based on estimated production data
multiplied by unit prices.
Table 20* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of construction
materials in the USSR and the US. Table 21** gives weighted price ratios
of construction materials in the USSR and the US.
6.. Abrasives Products.
Grinding wheels were selected to represent the abrasives products
category, not only because of the availability of prices for both the
US and the USSR but also because in 1947, grinding wheels alone accounted'
for more than 40 percent of the total value of nonmetallic abrasives and
for 32 percent of the total value of all abrasives produced in the US.
Also, grinding wheels were entirely comparable in respect to shape., grit,
bond, grain, and size. Comparability could not be established with
respect to quality.
Ruble prices for abrasives products were effective 1 January 1950 ~jo
and remained in effect throughout the year. They are factory prices and
do not include packing. In the USSR, there is a price reduction of 10
percent for abrasives products of second quality, but it is not known
whether there is any discount for quantity orders.
US_prices were taken from the price list of a representative US
manufacturer and were effective-20 July 1953. Prices were f.o.b. point
Table 20 follows on p. 61.
Table 21 follows on p. 62.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Construction Materials
in the USSR and the US
SIC No.
Item
USSR
US
Rubles per Unit J
Dollars per it J
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
2952
Roofing felts and coatings
Roofing felt
Soft roofing-Ruberoid ROM-500 (20 meters/roll)
Asphalt felt (100 pounds)
1.6/square meter
0.29/square meter
5-5
Soft roofing-Roofing tar paper T-350 (15 meters/roll)
Tar felt (100 pounds)
1.6/square meter c/
0.29/square meter
5.5
3211
Flat glass
Single strength COST 3-11-41, thickness from 0.063 to 0.075
inches, area of 10 to 13 square feet, Class I. Zone I
Double strength, COST 11-41, thickness from 0.ll to 0.13
inches, area of 10 to 13 square feet, Class I, Zone 1
Single strength, A quality,
New York
Double strength, A quality,
New York
3241
Cement, hydraulic
Mark 400
3251
Brick
Clay building brick, COST 530-41 standard clay brick,
9.8 inches by 4.7 inches by 2.6 inches, grade 1.
Clay building brick, straight
hard, 8 inches by 3 3/4 inches
Mark 100
by 2 1/2 inches
32.93/1,000 1
3292
Asbestos products
Asbestos cement
Corrugated asbestos cement shingles, 120 centimeters by
shingles
68 centimeters by 0.55 centimeters
inch, including felt
4.1/square meters /
1.00/square meters
4.i
a. Unless otherwise noted, Soviet prices are from source 1 and adjusted to 1 July 1950-
b. Unless otherwise noted, US prices are from source
c. L3/
d. Average price of single and double strength, assuming equal production of the two.
e. Prices for several areas in both countries have been averaged.
f. This ruble-dollar ratio has been computed by adjusting the Soviet price by a factor of roughly 60 percent to insure comparability with US price.
60 percent larger by volume than the US brick.
g..84
h.
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Table 21
Weighted Price Ratios of Construction Materials in the USSR and the US
Value Weights Weighted Price Ratio
SIC No.
Price Ratio
Item (Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR US Mix
(Million Rubles) (Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
1,511.9
7,971.0 8.2
6.2
2952
Roofing felt 5.5
331.6
333.0
3211
Flat glass 8.4
235.1
803.0
3241
Cement 10.6
670.2
1,760.0
3251
Brick 6.2
208.6
3,272.0
3292
Asbestos cement shingles 4.1
66.4
1,803.0
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of shipment. As all prices were subject to quantity discounts ranging
from 36-1/2 percent to 65 percent of list, the middle discount rate of
43 percent was taken as an average to arrive at representative prices
for the wheels. Using Bureau of Labor price indexes 86 , the July 1953
prices were adjusted to annual 1950 prices for grinding wheels.
To establish an average ratio for the abrasives products class,
85 Soviet grinding wheels were matched with 85 comparable US grinding
wheels, all weighted according to the pattern of production of a major
US producer in 1952. Such a comparison results in an average ratio of
2.5 rubles per US dollar. In view of the structure of the abrasives
products industry, this pattern was considered representative of the
industry as a whole in the US. No information on the Soviet pattern
of production was available.*
Table 22** gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of abrasives
products in the USSR and the US.
7. Iron and Steel.
a. General.
Prices and specifications for most of the products of the iron
and steel industries of the USSR and the US have been taken from _
25X1A5a1 - Ruble prices are those in effect on 1 January 1950,*** and
dollar prices are those in effect during the first quarter of 1950.
Additional sources of price data will be noted when appropriate.****
25X1 A5a 1
For detailed methodology, see source .87/.
Table 22 follows on p. 64.
On 1 July 1950, wholesale prices were reduced by 5 percent for
(a) steel of ordinary quality (structural and shaped steel, cable wire,
beams and girders, sheet and wide strip steel, excluding tinplate and
tin-plated and lead-plated sheet steel), and.rails and other products
for railroad transportation (rail fastenings, bands, seamless rolled
wheels and centers, the preparation of forgings, axles, beam rollers,
and iron castings) and (b) steel and cast iron tubing and cylinders
(all steel piping without exception -- welded, electric welded, seamless,
boiler and steam, for the oil industry and drilling, for machine con-
struction, rust resisting, basic types of cast iron water pipes, shaped
joints for cast iron water pipes, and steel cylinders of general and
basic types). 88
*XXX Text continued on p. 69.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives Products
in the USSR and the US
Ratio
US Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit (Ruble-Dollar)
3291
Abrasives products
coarse grit)
ht wheel
trai
h
l
(
,
g
ee
s
s
Grinding w
Diameter Thickness Diameter
(Millimeters) (Millimeters) Inches
Thickness
(Inches)
Vitrified bond
50
25
2
1
0.52
0.28
1.9
Aluminum oxide
1
2
00
0.94
2.1
100
50
id
25
25
4
2
1
.
0.66
0.33
2.0
2
2
e
White aluminum ox
i00
25
4
1
2.40
1.10
.
100
25
4
1
2.75
1.09
2.5
Silicon carbide
Green silicon carbide 100
25
4
1
3.65
1.14
3.2
Resinoid bond
8
1
4
id
100
25
4
1.80
1.2
.
8
1
e
Aluminum ox
Silicon carbide
100
25
4
2.45
1.37
.
100
25
4
1
3.15
over 4 Inches Diameter and up to 10 Inches
1
2
70
1.37
2.0
125
150
25 55
25 l
.
3.35
1.67
2.0
175
25 7
4.45
2.04
2.2
2
2
200
25 8 1
5.55
2.50
.
250
25 10 1
7.85
3.85
2.0
250
50 10 2
13.40
6.75
2.0
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 Approved For Release 19'99/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Vitrified bond (cont'd)
White aluminum oxide
Green silicon carbide
USSR
US
Over 4 Inches Diameter and up to 10 Inches
Diameter
(Millimeters)
Thickness
(Millimeters)
Diameter
(Inches)
Thickness
Inches
125
25
5
1
125
50
5
2
150
25
6
1
175
200
25.
25
7
8
1
250
25
10
1
1
175
25
7
1
200
25
8
1
250
25
10
1
175
25
7
1
200
25
8
1
250
25
10
1
150
25
6
1
200
25
8
1
250
25
10
1
150
25
6
1
200
25
8
1
250
25
10
1
Rubles per Unit
Dollars per Unit
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
3.65
1.61
2.3
5.95
2.60
2.3
4.68
1.95
2.4
6.io
2.38
2.6
7.80
2.91
2.7
11.40
4.49
2.5
6.90
2.36
2..9
8.80
2.88
3.1
12.80
4.45
2.9
9.95
2.47
4.0
12.80
3.02
4.2
19.20
4.65
4.1
3.05
2.43
1.3
5.20
3.55
1.5
9.70
5.21
1.9
5.10
2.59
2.0
7.75
3.79
2.0
11.80
5.55
2.1
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
S-E-C-R-E-T
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Rubles per Unit
Dollars per Unit
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
10 Inches Diameter and up to 18 Inches
Diameter
(Millimeters)
Thickness
(Millimeters)
Pole
(Millimeters)
Diameter
(Inches)
Thickness
(Inches)
Hole
(Inches)
300
25
127
12
1
11.16
5.25
2.1
350
25
127
14
1
15.70
7.03
2.2
400
50
203
16
2
8
31,30
15.09
2.1
450
25
203
18
1
8
26.70
11.00
2.4
450
50
203
18
2
8
45.60
19.18
2.4
300
25
127
12
1
15.30
6.13
2.5
350
25
127
14
1
22.00
8.20
2.7
400
50
203
16
2
8
44.30
17.60
2.5
450
25
127
18
1
41.80
13.43
3.1
450
50
203
18
2
8
63.70
22.38
2.8
300
25
127
12
1
17.30
6.06
2.9
450
50
203
18
2
8
70.60
22.15
3.2
300
25
127
12
1
24.90
6.35
3.9
6
4
450
50
203
18
2
8
148.00
23.18
.
um oxide
Al
i
300
25
127
12
1
12.60
6.84
1.8
1
6
um
n
40o
50
203
16
2
8
30.10
19.00
.
450
50
203
18
2
8
44.80
25.20
1.8
rbide
Sili
300
25
127
12
1
15.20
7.28
6
2.1
4
2
con ca
400
50
127
16
2
55.30
22.
7
.
Rubber bond
300
25
12
1
16.10
8.51
1.9
400
25
203
16
1
8
25.60
12.08
2.1
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 Approved For Release 1999/09%08 : CIA-RDP79S01046A000500040001-2
S-E-C-R-E-T
Table 22
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
SIC No. Item USSR US Rubles per Unit
Over 18 Inches Diameter and up to 28 Inches
Diameter Thickness Hole Diameter Thickness Hole
(Millimeters) (Millimeters) (Millimeters) (Inches) (Inches) (Inches)
Dollars per Unit
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
13.63
2.4
12.52
2.3
23.74
2.5
21.82
2.2
22.55
2.0
32.89
2.4
27.69
3.0
25.45
2.6
38.36
2.8
27.40
3.4
25.19
2.9
35.92
2.8
28.68
4.7
26.36
4.0
37.58
4.0
31.29
1.8
27.03
1.7
41.26
1.9
33.36
2.6
28.80
2.3
43.97
2.5
29.42
3.4
500 25 203 20 1 8 33.40
500 25 305 20 1 12 29.20
500 50 203 20 2 8 59.10
500 50 305 20 2 12 47.10
6oo 25 305 24 1 12 45.00
600 50 305 24 2 12 77.70
500 50 203 20 2 8 82.40
500 50 305 20 2 12 65.10
600 50 305 24 2 12 109.00
500 50 203 20 2 8 92.90
500 50 305 20 2 12 73.60
500 75 305 20 3 12 101.00
500 50 203 20 2 8 135.00
500 50 305 20 2 12 106.00
500 75 305 20 3 12 150.00
500
500
600
500
500
600
203 20 2 8 57.90
305 20 2 12 46.50
305 24 2 12 77.60
203 20 2 8 86.00
305 20 2 12 57.10
305 24 2 12 110.00
500 50 305 20 2 12 100.00
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Abrasives Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Item
USSR
US
Rubles per Unit
Dollars per Unit
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
Over 28 Inches Diameter
Diameter
(Millimeters)
Thickness Hole
(Millimeters) (Millimeters)
Diameter
(Inches)
Thickness
(Inches)
Hole
(Inches)
750
50
305
30
2
12
14l.0O
56.21
2.5
750
75
305
30
3
12
198.00
77.86
2.5
goo
52
305
36
2
12
245.00
85.99
2.8
900
78
305
36
3
12
351.00
117.07
3.0
750
50
305
30
2
12
197.00
65.57
3.0
750
75
305
30
3
12
277.00
90.85
3.0
750
75
305
30
3
12
197.00
97.90
2.0
750
100
305
30
4
12
255.00
128.65
2.0
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79S01046A00050004000.1-2
25X1A5a1
A representative sample of 45 ratios of the total number of
523 ratios computed was selected for the iron and steel indus-
try. This sample of ratios was selected in order to facilitate the
computation of a set of weighted ratios for a four-digit industry class-
ification based on Soviet value weights. Soviet weights are available
for only a limited number of items,
b. Derivation of Value Weights.
In most instances, gross value weights for both the US and the
USSR have been estimated by multiplying physical production data by
the prices used in computing the ruble-dollar ratios. US production
figures have been obtained primarily from data published by the American
Iron and Steel Institute. 89/
The estimating procedures employed in deriving gross value and
physical production estimates for the US and the USSR for the principal
categories of finished steel products are set forth below.
(1) Pipe and Tube.
Although the pipe and tube category is the only finished
steel product for which official Soviet production data are available,
the great diversity of types within the category makes an accurate
estimate of the gross value difficult. It is estimated that 70 percent
of the category is seamless tube, the remainder largely welded pipe.
Ithas been assumed that 35,000 metric tons of the seamless category is
stainless steel (purposely established on the high side to reflect other
pipe and tube items of a special nature), the remainder being regular
high-quality seamless.
(2) Heavy Sections
25X1A5a1
The three principal types of heavy sections are channels,
I-beams, and angles, prices for which are given in Gross
value output estimates for the US and the USSR were obtained by multi-
plying physical production estimates for heavy sections by the average
price for channels, I-beams, and angles. In computing a Soviet average
price for heavy sections, the prices for beams, channels, and angles
were weighted in the ratio of 2 to 1 to 1.
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
(3) Light Sections.
In the USSR, production of light sections is divided into
two groups -- ordinary and quality grades. In 1950, of the total pro-
duction in the light -section category, 4.01 million metric tons was of
ordinary quality consisting of roughly equal parts of light channels,
angles, small beams, and hot rolled bars, and the remaining 1.34 million
metric tons was of quality grade. One-half of the quality grade con-
sists of hot rolled alloy bars, and the remaining production is esti-
mated to be divided evenly between cold finished bars, high speed tool
steel bars, and hot and cold rolled stainless bars.
The "ordinary" and "quality" groups do not accurately
correspond to the division of production of light sections in the US.
Theief ore, for purposes of comparability, the light section category
has been divided into two main groups -- "structural" and "bars." The
structural category consists of light channels, junior I-beams, and
angles. The bar category is made up of all bars.
US gross value of output for the structural category has
been derived by multiplying total physical production by the average
of prices for light channels, junior I-beams, and angles.
In computing the gross value of bars in the US, it was
necessary to average the prices for hot rolled, cold finished, and
hot rolled alloy bars, since the production figure used included these
items. 90/
(4), Wire Rod.
In the USSR, wire rod is produced in the ordinary and quality
grades. For purposes of computing US gross values, it has been assumed
that Soviet ordinary wire rod and US carbon steel wire rod are compar-
able and that Soviet quality wire rod is comparable to US alloy steel
wire rod. Production data used in the computation of US values were
found in source 91/_
(5) Plate.
For purposes of computing US gross values, it has been assumed
that Soviet ordinary plate and US carbon steel plate are comparable and
Soviet quality plate is comparable to US alloy steel plate.
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
25X1A5a1
Table 23* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of iron
and steel products in the USSR and the US. Table 2)l** gives weighted price
ratios of iron and steel products in the USSR and the US.
8. Nonferrous Metals.
US and Soviet prices for nonferrous metals have been taken from
except where otherwise noted. Ruble prices are those
in effect on 1 January 1950, and dollar prices are those in effect
during the first quarter of 1950. Prices for various sizes and speci-
fications of the rolled and drawn products considered have been averaged
as the resulting ratios closely approximate the ratios computed for the
corresponding primary metal.
US gross value of output data, or data used in the computation of
gross values, have been taken from the Minerals Yearbook. 92 Values
for copper and magnesium have been computed by multiplying physical
production by the average yearly price. Values of production for lead,
zinc, and aluminum were reported. The weights for the components of
SIC Number 3339, Primary Nonferrous Metals, n.e.c., except cadmium,
have been derived from consumption data multiplied by average yearly
prices. Since relatively small quantities of these items are produced
in the US, it is believed that value weights based on consumption data
are more meaningful for purposes of combining ratios. The value of
shipments has been used for cadmium.
Gross value weights for the USSR have been derived by multiplying
physical production by average prices. 93
No attempt has been made to value rolled and drawn products.
Table 25*** gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of non-
ferrous metals in the USSR and the US. Table 26*3* gives weighted price
ratios of nonferrous metals in the USSR and the US./
Table 23 follows on p. 72.
Table 21i follows on P- 75-
Table 25 follows on p. 78.
Table 26 follows on p. 80.
Text continued on p. 81.
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Table 23
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
Basic pig iron
Bessemer pig iron
Foundry pig iron (gray castings)
Foundry pig iron (malleable castings)
Ferromanganese
Spiegeleisen
Ferrosilicon
Rails
Railroad accessories
Pipes and tubes
Welded
Seamless
High quality
Stainless
Channels
I-beams
Angles
Light channels
Junior I-beams
Angles
25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1
Price --/*
Rubles per
Dollars per
Ratio
Metric Ton
Metric Ton
(Ruble-Dollar)
476
52.80 J
9.0
400
51.70
7.7
427 c/
48.69 c,
8.8
660
51.20
12.9
1,487
190.00
7.8
600
70.40
8.5
720 /
80.00 of
9.0
621
81.59
7.6
590
92.61
6.4
1,350
138.21
9.8
6,830
445.67
15.3
564
82.67
6.8
80o
81.57
9.8 -
660
80.48
8.2
587
92.59
6.3
815
92.59
8.8
650
74.97
8.7
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Table 23
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
3312
(cont'd)
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
USSR US Metric Ton Metric Ton (Ruble-Dollar)
25X1A5a1
Hot rolled stainless
10,320
699.96
14.7
Tool steel
25,760
4,211.55
6.1
Hot rolled
786 J
83.24 g/
9.4-
Cold finished
1,172
117.97
9.9
Hot rolled alloy
1,218
136.71
8.9
Ordinary
777 i/
96.65 J
8.0
Quality
1,300 J
118.00 /
11.0
Hot rolled
828
84.89
9.8
Cold rolled
960
99.23
9.7
Galvanized
2,640
147.07
18.0
Tinplate
6,670
155.28
43.0
Electrical
2,350
277.83
8.5
Stainless
13,360
893.03
15.0
Hot rolled
891
111.35
8.0
Cold rolled
1,670
143.33
11.7
Stainless
17,500
826.88
21.2
Ordinary
829
91.51
9.1
Quality
1,200 /
120.00 /
10.0
Stainless
12,780
927.20
13.8
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S-E-C-R-E-T
Specifications,
Prices, and Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Specifications Price
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
USSR US Metric Ton Metric Ton (Ruble-Dollar)
Ferrosilicon
Ferrochrome Grade Khr 000 (Cr 60%,
3321 Gray-iron foundries
Gray-iron castings
3322 Malleable-iron foundries
Malleable-iron castings
3323 Steel foundries
Steel castings
3391 Iron and steel forgings
Quality 3,610 223.00 16.2
a. Unless otherwise noted, all prices are taken from source 2J21
b. Allows for high Mn.
c. Average price of Northern pig iron (high phosphorus) and Southern pig iron.
d..
e. Average of prices for ferrosilicon from source ~.
f. Average price for size 0.98 and 3.54 inches.
g. Average price forsize 1 and 3 1/2 inches.
h. It has been assumed that Soviet ordinary wire rod and US carbon steel wire rod are comparable and Soviet quality wire rod is comparable to US alloy steel wire rod.
i. Average of wire rod category.
j. Estimated from price data in source 9J5.
k. Estimated.
1. / -
m. 97/
n. ~0
o. Average of the four principal marks of gray castings of medium complexity. 99
P. !LO/
q. Ratio estimated. Reasoning is predicated on a ratio of 12.9 for the grade of pig iron used in malleable castings.
r. The ruble price was determined by averaging the carbon and low alloy grades of castings of medium complexity which in the US account for 80 percent of all steel
castings and adding the average of alloy and high alloy grades of castings of medium complexity which account for the remainder. 12.1/
B. 1947 price adjusted to 1950 price. Between 1947 and 1950, AISI composite iron and steel index increased 7 z percent, which was applied to the 1947 price.
-74-
S-E-C-R-E-T
25X1A5a1
1,650 223.00 7++
3,700 , 411.11 J 9.0
25X1A5a1
3,855 J 362.00 1 10.6
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 Approved For Release 109/09108 : CIA-RDP79S01046A00050004000?-2
Weighted Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
SIC No.
Price Ratio
Item (Rubles per Dollar)
(Million US $)
(Million Rubles)
(Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar)
3311
Blast furnaces
3,516.5
9,041.2
9.0
Basic pig iron
9.0
2,629.4
6,537.9
Bessemer pig iron
7.7
418.8
436.o
Foundry pig iron (gray castings)
8.8
136.3
1,469.7
Foundry pig iron (malleable castings)
12.9
163.8
194.7
Ferromanganese
7.8(
200.7
Spiegelelsen
8.~
104.2 J*
159.0
Ferrosilicon
9.0
64.0 ,
43.2
8,700.5
25,177.4
13.1
Rails
7.6
146.9
908.0
Railroad accessories
6.4
64.8
328.0
Pipes and tubes
1,274.7
2,934.0
10.2
Welded
Seamless
High quality
9.8
454.7
1,843.0
Stainless
15.3
4.5
239.0
Channels
6.8
I-beams
9.8
angles
8.2
1,608.3
12,005.4
8.9
7.7
7.9 f
7.9
Light channels
6.3
588.2
Junior I-beams
8.8
651.3
Angles
8.7
816.6
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 Approved For Release 1999/09/08 : CIA-RDP79SO1046A000500040001-2
S-E-C-R-E-T
Table 21
Weighted Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
US Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
3312
(cont'd)
Hot rolled stainless
14.7
24.0
2,311.7
Tool steel
6.1
237.5
5,770.2
Hot rolled
9.4
787.6
9.9
1,251.4
262.5
8.9
817.3
505.3
902.0
8.0
8.7
Ordinary
8.0
498.3
634.0
Quality
11.0
7.0
268.0
3,282.2 J
3,707.0
18.6
13.5
Hot rolled
9.8
848.4
1,375.0
Cold rolled
9.7
837.4
450.0
Galvanized
18.0
300.0
264.o
Tinplate
43.0
779.6
1,068.0
Electrical
8.5
338.2
216.0
Stainless
15.0
178.6
334.o
786.8 J
549.o
12.8
11.2
Hot rolled
8.0
229.5
220.0
Cold rolled
11.7
281.9
154.0
Stainless
21.2
205.4
175.0
672.6
2,089.0
9.8
9.5
Ordinary
9,11
640.3
1,650.0
Quality
10.0
247.0
.
Stainless
13.8
32.3
192.0
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 Approved For Release 1999/09108 : CIA-RDP79S01046A00050004000i-2
Table 24
Weighted Price Ratios of Iron and Steel Products
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Value Weights
Weighted Ratio
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio
(Rubles per Dollar)
US
(Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
US Mix Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
596.0
Ferromanganese
6.0
236.0
Ferrosilicon
7.4
116.0
Ferrochrome
9.0
244.0
3321 Gray-iron foundries
Gray-iron castings
3322 Malleable-iron foundries
Malleable-iron castings
13.0
274.5
2,220.0
3323
Steel foundries
Steel castings
10.6
362.0
3,080.0
3391
Iron and steel forgings
1,058.0
Ordinary
12.7
740.0
Quality
16.2
318.0
Includes ferromanganese and ferrosilicon produced in electric furnaces.
Simple average.
Average ratio of channels, beams, and angles; however, beams were given twice the weight of the other two.
US production data used in the computation of values from source 102 .
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Nonferrous Metals
in the USSR and the US
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
SIC No. Item USSR US Metric Ton Metric Ton (Ruble-Dollar)
3331 Primary smelting and refining of copper 25X1 A5a 1
Primary copper
6,612
407.50
16.2
3332
Primary smelting and refining of_lead
Primary lead
3,650
260.19
14.0
3333
Primary smelting and refining of zinc
Primary zinc
12.6 J
3334
Primary refining of aluminum
Primary aluminum
6,650
375.00
17.7
3335
trimary refining of magnesium
Primary magnesium
Magnesium ingots (99.8%)
16,500 J
465.00
1
34.0
3339
Primary refining and smelting of nonferrous metals, n.e.c. J
25X1 A5a 1
Cadmium
248,000
4,410.00
56.2
Cobalt
456,000 ff
4,410.00
103.4
Nickel
36,000
970.00
7.1
3
Tin
111,600
1,643.00
6
7.9
Mercury
100
2,120.00
47.2
Antimony
20,300
623.00
32.6
3351
Rolling, drawing,
Copper rod
17.5 J
Copper sheet
16.0 J
Copper tubing
12.4 J
Aluminum sheet
15.4 J
Aluminum rods
19.1 J
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Nonferrous Metals
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Sheet lead
Sheet zinc
d. Average 1950 price from source 10
C. Not elsewhere counted.
f. 108
Price a
Rubles per Dollars per Ratio
Metric Ton Metric Ton (Ruble-Dollar)
5,800 375.00 15.5
4,925 342.00 14.4
79 -
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Table 26
Weighted Price Ratios of Nonferrous Metals
in the USSR and the US
Value Weights
Weighted Ratio
Price Ratio
US
USSR
US Mix
Soviet Mix
SIC No.
Item
(Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $)
(Million Rubles)
(Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
3331
Primary copper
16.2
515.8
1,978.1
3332
Primary lead
11+.0
137.2
386.4
3333
Primary zinc
12.6
240.1
377.6
3331+
Primary aluminum
17.7
236.0
1,482.6
3335
Primary magnesium
34.0
6.9
181.5
3339
Primary nonferrous metals, n.e.c. aJ
378.2
2,703.8
60.0
52.1
Cadmium
56.2
18.6
72.0
Cobalt
103.4
11.0
652.1
Nickel
37.1
89.0
1,152.0
Tin
67.9
246.5
714.0
Mercury
47.2
4.0
57.9
Antimon
32.6
9.1
55.8
y
25X1A5a1
3351
Rolling,
drawing,
and alloying of copper
13.8
3352
Rolling,
drawing,
and alloying of aluminum
16.3
3359
Rolling,
drawing,
and alloying of non-
ferrous
metals,
n.e.c. a/
15.0 b
14.9 J
3392
Wire drawing
14.2 /
14.1 J
a. Not elsewhere counted.
b. Simple average.
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9. Tractors and Trucks.
Prices for Soviet tractors are those believed to be in effect on
1 January 1950. Prices of 1 January 19+9 were adjusted to 1 January
1950 on the basis of known price changes. US prices for tractors were
in effect on 1 January 1950. Prices for US and Soviet trucks were
those in effect on 1 July 1950. With the reservation that little is
known about the operational life of Soviet machinery, comparability is
good for tractors and trucks.
Value weights have been computed for the USSR only. Estimated
production data have been multiplied by the price to derive value
weights.
Table 27* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of tractors
and trucks in the USSR and the US. Table 28** gives weighted price ratios
of tractors and trucks in the USSR.
10. Metalworking Machinery.
a. General.
The classes of commodities considered in this category include
machine tools and metalworking machinery (except machine tools). The
selection of these classes has been dictated largely by availability
of comparable US and Soviet data.
Comparability of,wholesale prices for the US and the USSR is
affected by a number of factors. In the US, depending upon the indus-
try and manufacturer concerned, prices quoted may or may not include
such items as shipment, installation, discounts, electrical equipment,
and accessories. The Soviet wholesale price lists used in this research
aid specified that prices are f.o.b. station of shipment, and they in-
cluded the cost of packing. Little is known concerning possible discount
practices and the inclusion of accessories and the like in the USSR.
For these reasons, it is not possible to say that US and Soviet whole-
sale prices always include the same items, nor is it usually possible
-to adjust for differences.
Table 27 follows on p. 82.
Table 28 follows on p. 83.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Tractors and Trucks
in the USSR and the US
SIC No. Item USSR US Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit J (Ruble-Dollar)
3521 Tractors S-80
DT-54; track-laying; diesel; 54 hp @
1,300 rpm; bore, 125 mm; stroke, 152
mm; tractor weight, 5,400 kg; over-all
length, 3,660 in; over-all width,
1,865 mm
KD-35; track-laying; diesel; 37 hp @
1,400 rpm, bore, 100 mm; stroke, 130 mm;
tractor weight, 3,700 kg; over-all length,
3,040 mm; over-all width, 1,430 mm
3711 Motor vehicles
Trucks GAZ-51, net weight with body, 5,975 ibs;
payload 2-1/2 tons; gross weight, 11,500
lbs; tire size, 5.70 x 20; wheelbase,
130 inches, dual rear tires
ZIS-150; 2-axles cargo; net weight,
3,900 kg (8,600 lbs)? gross weight,
8,050 kg (17,750 lbs); wheel base,
4,000 mm (157 inches); tire size,
900 x 20; dual rear tires
Caterpillar, D-4; track-laying; diesel; 50
hp @ 1,300 rpm; 53-1/2 hp @ 1,400 rpm; bore,
4-1/2 inches (114 mm); stroke, 5-1/2 inches
(140 mm); tractor weight, 4,730 kg; over-
all length, 3,050 mm; over-all width,
1,575 mm
Caterpillar D-2; track-laying; diesel;
38 hp @ 1,400 rpm; 41 hp @ 1,525 rpm;
bore, 4 inches (103 mm); stroke, 5 inches
(127 mm); tractor weight, 3,050 kg; over-
all length, 2,730 mm; over-all width,
1,415 mm
Ford, F-6 series; Model 9HTH; conventional;
heavy duty; payload, 2 tons; net weight
with body, 5,494 lbs; gross weight, 15,500
lbs; tire size, 7.50 x 20; wheel base,
134 inches, dual rear tires; 6-cylinder
engine
GMC, FC 453; gross weight, 19,000 lbs;
weight, chassis only, 5,440 lbs; cab,
500 lbs; platform express body, 1,100 lbs
a. Unless otherwise noted, all US prices from source 109-
b. Prices for tractors were constructed from 1949 prices in source 110 and adjusted to 1950 prices on the basis of known price changes.
c. Prices for Soviet trucks from source 111 .
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Weighted Price Ratios of Tractors and Trucks in the USSR
Value Weights Weighted Ratio
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio Us
(Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $)
USSR US Mix Soviet Mix
(Million Rubles) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
s-80
5.8
1,054.5
DT-54
5.9
1,096.2
KD-35
9.7
165.0
3711
Trucks
3,096.7
GAZ-51
8.6
1,420.2
ZIS-150
6.o
1,676.5
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b. Derivation of Price Ratios.
(1) Machine Tools.
Ruble prices as of 1 July 195Q have been used to establish
the 1950 ratios for machine tools, as they presumably reflected an
attempt by the Soviet government to bring prices of machine tools in
line with the new prices for other capital goods. These prices are
f.o.b. station of shipment and include the cost of packing. 112
US 1950 prices for machine tools have been estimated from
1951 prices in the absence of readily available data for 1950. Mid-
December 1951 prices have been used as the base prices. 11 A 21-per-
cent increase was noted between 1 July 1950 and mid-December 1951 in
the wholesale price indexes for special groupings of machinery and steel
products, including the machine tools class. 114- Using BLS base value
weights for 19)+7-49, it was established that the weight of the machine
tools class was 43 percent of the total weight of all classes included
in this special grouping. In addition, the "machine tools designed
primarily for home workshops" class, which comprised 3 percent of the
total weight of the special grouping, was included. Thus the two ma-
chine tools classes accounted for 46 percent of the base value weight.
On the-basis of data published by BLS, it was possible to establish
a weight and a price index for each of the 26 commodities included in
the 3 remaining classes of the special grouping. 11 It was found
that these classes, accounting for 54 percent of the weight, showed a
price increase, of 15.7 percentand that the machine tools class, account-
ing for 46 percent of the weight, showed a price increase of 27.2 per-
cent between 1 July 1950 and 1 January 1952. Base prices as of mid-
December 1951 were then adjusted to 1 July 1950 on the basis of a 27.2-
percent.price increase.
(2) Metalworking Machinery (Except Machine Tools).*
Ruble prices as of l July 1950 have been used to establish
the ruble-dollar ratios of metalworking machinery (except machine tools).
The 1 July 1950 prices represent a flat 7-percent reduction over 1 Jan-
uary 1950 prices, which in turn represent reductions of as much as 25
percent over 1949 prices.
* All of the machines used to represent this class are classified as
metalforking machinery.
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Prices of US metalworking machines (except machine tools)
have been constructed by using mid-December 1951 prices. 116 ?A price
index for metalworking machinery (except machine tools) was established
between 1 July 1950 and 1 January 1952, and the price increase for each
commodity was weighted according to BLS base value weights. 11 The
resulting average price increase of 19 percent was used to adjust the
mid-December 1951 price of each metalworking machine to 1 July 1950
prices.
Weighted ratios have been computed for machine tools and
metalworking machinery (except machine tools) only for the US. Value
of shipments data for 19+7 have been used as weights for the broad cate-
gories. For purposes of weighting, ruble-dollar ratios have been.aver-
aged in cases where ratios had been computed for more than one compon-
ent of a broad category.
Table 29* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of
metalworking machinery in the USSR and the US. Table 30** gives weighted
price ratios of metalworking machinery in the US.
11. Textile Machinery.
It is estimated that, in 1950, cotton accounted for approximately
88 percent of all textiles produced in the USSR and 77 percent of all
textiles produced in the US. 118 In view of the overwhelming impor-
tance of cotton in the textile industries of the two countries, the
machines selected for this research aid are all machines found in the
cotton textile industry.
Prices for the Soviet models were effective on 1 January 1950, 119/1
were f.o.b. point of shipment, and included the cost of packing. The
Soviet price list contained specifications of the textile machines as
well as prices. These specifications were submitted to manufacturers
of textile machines in the US, who in turn furnished prices for US models
which most nearly approximated the Soviet models. One weakness here,
however, was the failure of some manufacturers to indicate specifications
of the US machine they were using for comparison.
As US prices were for February 1953, they were adjusted to January
1950 prices. On the basis of data furnished by BLS, it was possible***
Table 29 follows on p. 86.
Table 30 follows on p. 88.
Text continued on p. 89.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Metalworking Machinery
in the USSR and the US
Ratio
SIC NO. Item USSR US Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit
(Ruble-Dollar)
Boring machines, horizontal 262G, 85 mm
262D, 11o mm
265V, 150 mm
Drilling machine radial
Gear cutting and finishing
255
machines
Gear bobbing machine,
universal
532
Grinder, centerless
3180
Grinder, plain cylin-
drical
3151, 150 mm by
Cincinnati Gilbert, 3g inches 119,380 19,911 , 6.0
Lucas, 42B30, 4 inches 112,800 26,638 4.2
Giddings and Lewis, 560P, 6 inches 756,700 112,318 6.7
Cincinnati Gilbert, 36 inches by
11 inches
Gould and Eberhardt, 36H,
36 inches by 15 inches 65,800 16,228 4.1
Gould and Eberhardt, 24H,
24 inches by 15 inches
Fellows, 615A
750 mm
Landis, 6 inches by
30 inches
23,124
9,992
2.3
Grinder, horizontal
spindle
3724, 2,000 mm by
400 mm
Thompson, 23-C, 16 inches by
Grinder, vertical
spindle
3756, 750 mm
96 inches
Blanchard, 30 inches
51,418
7,449
6.9
Laths
Lathe, engine
Reed-Prentice, AA, 16 inches
13,160
5,165
2.5
Lathe, 6-spindle
chucking
by 30 inches
19,393
5.6
Lathe, 6-spindle
vertical
1A283, 300 mm
Bullard, 12 inches
126,712
33,450
3.8
Lathe, 6-spindle
vertical
1284, 400 mm
Bullard 16 inches
140,248
38,945
Lathe, turret
1K36, 65 mm
Bardons and Oliver, 21A,
22 inches
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Specifications,
SIC No. Item
3541 Machine tools
(Cont'd)
Milling machines
Horizontal (plain)
Horizontal (universal)
Broaching machine,
hydraulic, horizontal
Planer
S-E-C-R-E-T
Table 29
Prices, and Price Ratios of Metalworking Machinery
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
6N82G, 1,250 mm
by 30 mm
6N82, 1,250 mm
by 300 mm
7530, 30 tons
7231A, -900 an
by 3,000 mm
3542 Metalworking machinery
(except machine tools)
Mechanical presses K231, 10 tons
K232, 15 tons
K30, 30 tons
Pipe and structural
bending machines
Iron worker N633
Ratio
Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit (Ruble-Dollar)
28,200
10,126
30,080
11, 562
8,945
5.1
192,700
30,708
6.3
31,678
6,665
4.8
13,536
2,457
5.5
3,860
718
5.4
6,045
962
6.3
11,467
6.0
Cincinnati Gilbert, 2,
high-speed dial
Cincinnati Gilbert, 2,
high-speed dial .
La Pointe, 50 hp, 25 tons
Gray, 36 inches by 120 inches
Rockford, 28 inches
Landmaco, lZ inches
Zeh and Hahnemann, 9 tons
Zeh and Hahnemana, 16 tons
E.W. Bliss, 32 tons
Power shearing machines
Shears, plate
Forging hammers
N461, 1,640 kg
Peck, Stow, and Wilcox,
3,900 pounds
Forging hemmer,
pneumatic
M412, 150 kg
Chambersburg, 300 pounds
17,484
5,218
3.4
m415, 400 kg
Cbambersburg, 750 pounds
39,860
11,483
3.5
Other forging machines
Rotary swager
V202, tube diameter,
Etna, tube diameter, 3/8 inches
7.3 mm
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Weighted Price Ratios of Metalworking Machinery in the US
Price Ratio US Value Weights US Mix Soviet Mix
SIC No. Item (Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $) (Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
35+1 Machine tools
369.8 4.5
Boring machines 5.6 25.8
Drilling machines 4.2 33.5
Gear cutting and finishing machines 2.7 17.7
Grinding and polishing machines 5.6 56.4
Lathes 3.6 92.9
Milling machines 2.7 35.3
Other machine tools 5.4 108.2
35+2 Metalworking machinery (except machine tools) 103.6 6.8
Mechanical presses 5.9 77.9
Pipe and structural bending machines 10.9 1.8
Power shearing machines 7.3 12.6
Forging hammers 3.1k 4+.3
Other forging machines 16.9 7.0
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to set up a wholesale price index for textile machines between January
1950 and February 1953. The 1953 prices were adjusted to January 1950
on the basis of a 22-percent increase during the period.
A weighted ratio for textile machinery has been computed only for
the US. Value of shipments in 19+7 for broad categories has been used
as value weights. Ruble-dollar ratios have been averaged in cases where
ratios had been computed for more than one component of a broad cate-
gory for purposes of weighting.
Table 31* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of textile
machinery in the USSR and the US. Table 32** gives weighted price ratios
of textile machinery in the US.
12. Electrical Equipment and Electronics.
Soviet wholesale prices for electrical equipment and electronics
(with the exception of electron tubes) were those in effect on 1 Jan-
uary 1950. Soviet prices for electron tubes for 1950 were obtained
by adjusting 1 January 1949 prices by means of an average price index
for mining, manufacturing, electric power, and rail transport. 120
US prices, in most cases, were annual average prices. US 1950
prices.for electron tubes were estimated by adjusting prices in effect
on 1 January 1949 by means of an electron tube price index. 121
On account of the lack of gross value of production data for the
US and the USSR, it was not possible to compute weighted average ratios
for most four-digit categories. In this case, simple averages of ratios
were computed for the four-digit categories.- A simple average of ratios
for most of the four-digit categories would differ only slightly from
a weighted average because of the small dispersion of the ratios.
Table 33*** gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of electrical
equipment and electronics in the USSR and the US. Table 31I* gives
weighted price ratios of electrical equipment and electronics in the US./
Table 31 follows on p. 90.
Table 32 follows on p. 91.
Table 33 follows on p. 92.
Table 34 follows on p. 97.
Text continued on p. 98.
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SIC No.
3552
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Textile Machinery
in the USSR and the US
Textile machinery
Cleaning and opening machinery
One-process picker
Vertical opener
Blending feeder
Carding machines
Card
Drawing and roving frames
Drawing frame
Roving frame
Silver lap wider
Spinning frames
Spinning frame for cotton yarn
Twisting fr?es
Dry twist twister
Winding machines
Winding frame
Other yarn preparing machines
High-speed warping machines
Slashing cylindrical -hi-
Power looms
Automatic weaving 1ocmm
Hosiery knitting machines
Automatic machine for production of
hosiery
Bleaching, dyeing, and finishing machinery
Dyeing machine for cotton
Two-roll finishing machine
Ratio
Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit (Ruble-Dollar)
80, 000
i6,ooo
10,716
1,982
1,455
7.5
8.1
7.1
L-305 or L-254 Whitin, KSF 15,200
RTP-192 Whitin (10 by 5 by 7-1/2 48,000
LS-235 inches) 20,000
P-66 or Pu-66
M-150
SV-140
S'bB-14o
ATK-100
KhK-110
PD-110
100,000
110,000
293,500
18,000
7,068
8,322
2,805
6,330
13,120
16,400
1,228
15.8
8.4
17.9
14.7
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Weighted Price Ratios of Textile Machinery in the US
Price Ratio US Value Weights
SIC No. Item (Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $)
3552
Textile machinery
173.9
Cleaning and opening machinery
Picker
7.5
2.2
Other cleaning and opening machinery
7.6
6.4
Carding machines
5.7
16.8
Drawing and roving frames
5.0
10.5
Spinning frames
5,0
17.2
Twisting frames
6.9
10.2
Winding machines
6.6
16.2
Other yarn preparing machines
12.1
4.2
Power looms
8.8
34.4
Knitting machines, hosiery
6.1
35.8
Bleaching, dyeing, and finishing machinery
16.3
20.0
US Mix
(RublesEer Dollar)
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
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Table 33
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
3511 Turbines
Steam
F[ydro
* Footnotes for Table 33 follow on p. 96.
12.5 mw J*
25 mw
50 mw
100 mw
150 mw
38.5 mw
75 mw
12.5 mw
46.o mw
65.0 mw
Ratio
US Rubles per Kilowatt Dollars per Kilowatt Ruble-Dollar)
12.5 mw
25 mw
50 mw
100 mw
150 mw
38.5 mw
75 mw
12.5 mw
46.o mw
65.0 mw
Copper, hard drawn, round, solid, Copper, hard drawn, round, solid
GOST 2112-46
0.6 mm in diameter 42 AWG J
0.30 mm in diameter 28 AWG
2.5 mm in diameter 10 AWG
6.0 in in diameter 2 AWG
Copper, annealed, round, solid, Copper, annealed, round, solid
GOST 2112-46
0.30 mm in diameter 28 AWG
2.5 mm in diameter 10 AWG
6.0 = in diameter 2 AWG
- 92 -
150 J 30 J 5.0
108 25 4.3
80 21 3.8
6o 17 3.5
50 15 3.3
47 50 0.9
68 50 1.4
202 75 2.7
201 75 2.7
185 75 2.5
1,114 e/ 218.12 5.1
384 34.66 11.1
346 29.82 11.6
346 29.57 11.7
386 34.76 11.1
348 29.92 11.6
348 29.67 11.7
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Table 33
Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Ratio
SIC No. Item USSR US Rubles per 1,000 Feet Dollars
per 1,000 Feet Ruble-Dollar
3631
(Cont'd)
Paper-insulated, single-conductor elec- Paper-insulated, single-conductor, lead-
tric power cable with copper conductor, sheathed cable, noncompact strand
insulated with impregnated cable paper,
lead-sheathed, GOST 340-41
Volt Cross Section (mm2) / Volt
Description
3,000
16
2,500
AWG 6
945
314
3.0
3,000
35
2,500
AWG 1
1,500
449
3.3
3,000
95
2,500
AWG 4/o
3,261
700
4.7
3,000
240
2,500
500 M
7,528
1,237
6.1
6,000
16
7,500
AWG 6
1,219
377
3.2
6,000
35
7,500
'AWG 1
1,8.10
493
3.7
6,00o
95
7,500
AWG 4/0
3,718
749
5.0
6,000
240
7,500
500 MLM
7,955
1,308
6.1
10,000
16
15,000
AWG 6
1,588
469
3.4
10,000
35
15,000
AWG 1
2,249
634
3.5
10,000
95
15,000
AWG 4/0
4,237
920
4.6
10,000
240
15,000
500 MCM
8,504
1,541
5.5
Rubber-insulated, single-conductor elec-
Rubber-insulated, single-conductor,
tri
lea
c power cable with r
d-sheathed, GOST 433
ubber insulation,
-41, 500 volt
lead-sheathed bare, 600 volt,
60?C, type RL
Cross Section (mm2) Description
1
AWG 16 (=1 mn2), solid
259
40.20
6.4
6
AWG 10 mm2), solid
457
100
4.6
6
AWG 10 (=6 nm2), stranded
457
112
4.1
35
AWG 1 (=35 mm2) stranded
1,798
439
4.1
95
AWG 4/0 (=95 mm stranded
3,749
929
4.0
150
300 MM (=150 mn 5, stranded
5,456
1,395
3.9
240
500 WM (=240 mm2), stranded
8,321
2,015
4.1
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Ratio
SIC No. Item USSR US Rubles per 1,000 Feet Dollars per 1,000 Feet (Ruble-Dollar)
3631
(Cont'd)
Electric control cable with rubber insu- Rubber-insulated, copper conductors,
lation G05T1508-49, lead-sheathed, lead-sheathed, armored with steel tape,
armored with steel tape, with external with external jute covering, 600 volt
jute covering, unspecified voltage
Cross Section (mm2)
Conductor
AWG
Conductor
2.5
5
14
5
(=2.5 mm2)
1,676
508
3.3
2.5
14
14
12
3,109
841
3.7
2.5
19
14
19
3,718
1,120
3.3
2.5
37,
14
37
6,431
1,816
3.5
6
6
10
5
(=6 mm2)
2,621
612
4.3
6
10
10
12
3,810
1,128
3.4
normal quality
Copper
round
enamel
Copper, round, enamel
,
,
,
Diameter (mm)
AWG
2.02
6
373
43.55
8.6
0.80
20
445
47.10
9.4
0.25
30
614
60.65
10.1
0.08
4o
2,227
157.70
14.1
Field wire
Coaxial cable
10.0
5.0 1
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
Pear shape, inside frosted, for 115-,
120-, and 125-volt circuits
15 watts 135 volts TU-1-3-101
15 watts
0.80
0.09
8.9
25 watts 110 volts GOSC-16o8-47
25 watts
0.87
0.09
9.7
40 watts 110 volts GOST-1608-47
40 watts
0.97
0.09
10.8
60 watts 110 volts GOS1-1608-47
60 watts
0.97
0.09
10.8
100 watts 135 volts TU-1-3-101
100 watts
1.20
0.11
10.9
150 watts 135 volts TU-1-3-101
150 watts
1.20
0.15
8.0
300 watts 220 volts GOST-2239-43
300 watts
2.50
0.34
7.4
500 watts 220 volts GOST-2239-43
500 watts
2.80
0.75
3.7
750 watts 220 volts GOST-2239-43
750 watts
5.50
2.29
2.4
1,000 watts 220 volts GOST-2239-43
1,000 watts
6.00
2.48
2.4
3661
Radios, radio and television equipment
(exce
t radio tubes)
and radar and
p
,
related detection apparatus
Moskvich, 3-tube receiver
US cost estimated for Soviet specimen
.
500,x
34.95 W
14.3
VEF Super M-557, 6-tube receiver
US cost estimated for Soviet specimen
1,000
57.50
17.4
Belarus, 13-tube receiver
US cost estimated for Soviet specimen
2,000 iTl
199.50
10.0
Iskra, 4-tube receiver
Leningrad T-1, Type 18 LK 1B, tube
US cost estimated for Soviet specimen
9 x 10-3/8 inch screen, 18 tubes,
400 1
39.95
10.0
7 inches in diameter, 22 tubes, table
model
multichannel, table model
Ratio
Dollars per Unit (Ruble-Dollar)
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
(Continued)
6V6S, P.O. pentode
6Kh5S, 2X power rectifier
6s5s
6F5M, detector-triode
12N11 (12AH7GT)
5V4S, 2X power rectifier
6N9M (6sL7GT)
12SK7, RF pentode
12SR7, double diode-triode
6N8M (6SN7GT), 2X triode
6Zh5M (6J5GT), detector-triode
6x10 (6sc70T)
6627
6SJ7, RF pentode
6AC7, RF pentode
6165 (6G6GT), P.O. pentode
12J5GT, detector-triode
12SJ7, RF pentode
6SH7, RF pentode
6SQ7, double diode-triode
12SQ7, double diode-triode
12SG7, RF' pentode
Ratio
US Rubles per Unit Dollars per Unit (Ruble-Dollar)
Megawatts.
Soviet prices for entire category 3511 from source 122.
Unless otherwise noted, US prices are. from source 12.
AWG = American wire gauge.
All Soviet prices for category 3631 are from source a4 j.
Ml2 = square millimeters in diameter.
MM = million circular mills.
Ratio estimated on the basis of the technology of its production.
Soviet prices for. 3651 are from source 125/.
Retail price is from source 126
All US prices for consumer radios are retail prices from source 12
Retail price. 128
Retail price is from source 12 .
Retail price., 1 0
Retail price .1 1
Retail price. a22
US and Soviet prices are 1949 prices adjusted to 1950 prices by using price index shown
6v6GT
6X5GT
6C5GT
6F5GT
12AH7GT
5v4G
6SL7GT
12SK7
12SR7
6SN7GT
6J5GT
6SC7GT
66117
6SJ7
6AC7
6H6GT
12J5GT
12SJ7
6sH7
6sQ7.
12SQ7
12SG7
25X1A5a1
11.85 1.57 7.5
11.25 1.29 8.7
7.50 0.80 9.4
7.50 0.80 9.4
15.00 1.29 11.6
9.30 0.74 12.6
15.00 1.18 12.7
12.45 0.92 13.5
13.50 0.98 13.8
15.00 1.08 13.9
10.50 0.74 14.2
15.00 0.98 15.3
13.50 0.88 15.3
12.52 0.81 15.5
22.50 1.42 15.8
14.02 0.88 15.9
12.00 0.74 16.2
13.50 0.82 16.5
19.05 1.08 17.6
13.50 0.74 18.2
13.50 0.74 18.2
18.75 0.98 19.1
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Table 34+
Weighted Price Ratios of Electrical Equipment and Electronics
in the USSR and the US
Value Weights
Weighted Ratio
SIC No.
Item
Price Ratio US
(Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $)
USSR
(Million Rubles)
)
US Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
( P ~
Soviet Mix
(Rubles
( per Dollar)
3511
Turbines
454.0
3.0 /
3.0
Steam
4.0
a
/
343.0
Hydro
2.0
^
'
1
111.0
3631
Insulated wire and cable
6.2 a/
5.0 ,
3651
Electric lamps
7.5J
5.4J
3661
Radios, radio and television equipment
(except radio tubes), and radar and related
detection apparatus
3662 Radio tubes
13.2 J 12.6 J
14.1 1 13.2 1
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S-E-C-R-E-T
13. Communications Services.
a. General.
The sectors of the communications industry considered in this
report include the telephone, telegraph, and postal systems. Not in-
cluded in the analysis are special, functionalized communications sys-
tems, such as those maintained by the military, police, and civil air
fleet.
Telephone, telegraph, and mail service are believed to be repre-
sentative of the sectors of the communications industry being considered
and are reasonably comparable in both countries.
It should be pointed out that in dealing with a service, as opposed
to a commodity, it is difficult, if not. impossible, to measure value
accurately. No attempt has been made here to weight the services se-
lected in regard to efficiency or quality. Instead, the main reliance
has been placed on selecting services with the same general character-
istics in both the US and the USSR.
b. Derivation of Price Ratios.
In developing ruble-dollar price ratios for the selected ser-
vices it was necessary to determine typical charges for comparable ser-
vices.
In both the US and the USSR, charges for long-distance tele-
phone calls are based on distance spanned and time consumed in conver-
sation. Although it is possible to arrive at an average charge for a
typical call in the US, corresponding data forthe USSR are not avail-
able-for such a computation. Therefore, instead of utilizing an aver-
age charge for the US long-distance telephone call, the schedules of
rates for the two countries-were compared. 133 Ratios were cal-
culated. for each distance unit in the schedules and an arithmetic aver-
age of these ratios was taken as a representative ratio.
US home telephone subscription rates vary by locality, numbers
of telephones in the exchange, and type of service offered. The charge
ranges from about $3 to $7.50 per month. 134A typical charge appears
to be $t+ per month, or $18 per year. The yearly Soviet subscription
fee for a home telephone is 300 rubles. 135
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Business telephone subscription charges in the US vary in
the same manner as home telephone charges and range between $5 and $15
per month. 136 It is believed that $8.50 per month, or $102 per year,
represents a typical charge. The Soviet charge for a business or enter-
prise telephone is 500 rubles per year. 137
In the US, there are three types of telegrams -- full rate,
day letters, and night letters. The charges for these three services
vary according to the number of words sent, the distances spanned, and
the time in delivery. In the USSR, there are also three types of tele-
grams -- common, urgent, and lightning. The charges for these three
services vary with number of words and speed of delivery, but the charge
does not appear to-vary in proportion to distance spanned. From the
fragmentary data available on the Soviet telegraph service, it is impos-
sible to correlate Soviet telegram classifications with those of the US.
Since common telegrams are the most typical sent in the USSR and full-
rate telegrams the most typical in the US, these two services were selec-
ted as representative of the telegraph service in the two countries.
The average full-rate telegram in the US costs $0.89. This rate was
determined by dividing the total yearly revenue for full-rate messages
by the number of telegrams sent. 138 The average number of words per
telegram is not known, but it would exceed the base rate of 10 words.
The Soviet charge for a 10-word common telegram is 4 rubles. 139 The
Soviet average telegram will also exceed the minimum wordage, and it
is therefore assumed that an additional 12-1/2 percent of the base charge
would be a reasonable addition for the excess wordage, yielding an aver-
age charge of 4.5 rubles.
To check the validity of these assumptions, it was found
that the average US telegram price of $0.89 would buy a full-rate,
10-word telegram sent for a distance of about 1,100 miles. To call
this distance on the telephone in the US would cost $1.82 for a ratio
of telephone charge to telegram charge of about 2 to 1. To call
1,100 miles in the USSR costs about 8.20 rubles. When this charge is
compared with the above-determined average telegram charge of 4.5 ru-
bles it yields a ratio of about 1.8 to 1. Thus the ratios of tele-
phone charges to telegram charges in the two countries appear consis-
tent, and as they are close substitutes for rapid communications this
ratio tends to validate the comparability of the services in the two
countries.
Letters and post cards mailed are believed to be represen-
tative of the mail service category. The price for mailing a letter
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in the US in 1950 was $0.03, and in the USSR 0.40 rubles. 140 The
price for mailing a post card in the US in 1950 was $0.01, and in the
USSR 0.25 rubles. 141
c. Derivation of Value Weights.
Revenues received from the various communications services
have been used as value weights for both the US and the USSR. In
instances where revenue data were not already published, volume
figures have been combined with price data to determine revenue values.
Various considerations were made in arriving at volume data for the
different services, and for this reason each service will be discussed
separately.
(1) Long-Distance Telephone Calls.
Total revenue from long-distance telephone calls in the
US in 1950 was published. 142 The corresponding Soviet revenue
figure was developed by taking the average rate for US long-distance
calls -- $0.52 -- and multiplying it by the ruble-dollar ratio pre-
viously computed -- 4.5 to 1 -- to get a Soviet average rate per call
of 2.34 rubles. This rate was multiplied by the number of calls 143
to get the total revenue figure.
(2) Home or Private Telephone Subscriptions.
The number of home telephones existing in the US in 1950
was 30 million. 144 This figure included extension telephones, extra
telephones, telephones used only part time, and dead telephones not
connected. It was assumed that only a net of 25 million of these 30
million telephones would represent full-year, full-rate subscribers.
The number of home telephones in the USSR in 1950 on a
full-year, full-rate basis was estimated to be 300,000 out of a total
number of 1.4 million. 14 The ratio of home telephones to business
telephones in the USSR is not known, but home telephones are known to
be in the minority, and this division appeared reasonable.
The net number of US home telephones -- 25 million,-- was
multiplied by the average subscription rate of _$48 to get total reve-
nue. The Soviet subscription charge of _300 rubles was multiplied by
the number of home subscribers -- 300,000 -- to arrive at total reve-
nue.
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(3) Business or Enterprise Telephone Subscriptions.
The total number of business telephones in the US in 1950
was 13 million. 146 It has been assumed that only 10 million of
these would represent full-rate, full-year subscribers.'
The number of business or enterprise telephones in the
USSR -- 1.1 million -- again was arbitrarily selected as reasonable
from the total number of telephones in the USSR.
The total revenue for both the US and USSR has been com-
puted by multiplying the number of subscribers by the appropriate
charge.
(4) Telegrams.
Total revenue in the US from telegrams in 1950 was $151.4
million. 14 Soviet telegram revenue of 1,090,071,000 rubles was
obtained by multiplying the US average price of $0.83 per telegram
(average for all telegrams sent in the US) by the ruble-dollar ratio
of 5.1 to 1 for telegrams to get an average Soviet price per telegram
of 4.23 rubles. This price was then multiplied by the number of
telegrams sent in the USSR in 1950 -- 257.7 million. 148
(5) Mail Service.
The volume of letters and post cards mailed -- 22 billion
and 3.9 billion, respectively 149 -- has been multiplied by the
postage fees to arrive at total US revenue data.
Volume figures for letters and post cards mailed in the
USSR -- 2,278 million and 570 million, respectively -- were derived
by taking the 1929 and 1937 figures reported by the UN 150/ and
making a straight extrapolation through time to 1950. The ratio be-
tween letters and post cards was estimated to be 4 to 1, which appears
reasonable in light of the US ratio for these categories. The volume
figures thus derived were multiplied by the postage rates, giving
revenue estimates.
* To verify the figures of 25 million home and 10 million business
subscribers, these figures were multiplied by their respective yearly
subscription rates, and the resulting total revenue of $2,220 million
compares favorably with the total revenue of these services of $2,287
million published by the FCC.
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Table 35* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of
communications services in the USSR and the US. Table 36** gives weighted
price ratios of communications services in the USSR and the US.
l4-. Electric Power.
Rate structures for electric power sold to consumers, in both the
USSR and the US, are very complex and differ considerably in their
makeup.
Industrial power rates in both countries are based on two
charges -- a use charge, based on the kilowatt-hours of elec-
tricity consumed during a billing period, and a demand charge,
based either on the maximum power demanded during a billing period
or on the maximum capacity of installed electrical equipment. In-
dustrial power rates differ for the two countries in that in the US
the rate charged industrial consumers decreases as the quantity con-
suiaed increases, whereas in the USSR the rate usually remains stable
regardless of the amount of power consumed. Also, rates in the USSR
are often inflated to discourage industries from locating in c-ertain
areas and are often deflated to -subsidize certain industries.
Power rates for most residential and commercial consumers (stores,
offices, and the like) in the USSR are on a "flat rate" basis regard-
less of the local production and distribution costs. For example,
residential consumers in both Moscow and Siberia pay the same rate for
electric power. Often the residential consumer is merely charged a
flat monthly rate depending upon the number and size of light bulbs
in his dwelling. In addition, nonessential, or "luxury," users, such
as churches, restaurants, and gasoline filling stations, are charged
exorbitant rates. On the other hand, power rates for residential and
commercial consumers in the US vary considerably from area to area and
usually reflect actual production and distribution costs, and flat
rates are virtually unknown.
The rate for industrial consumers in the US has been derived by
taking the average 1950 rate per kilowatt-hour for the category
"Large Light and Power" as defined by Edison Electric Institute. 151/
Table 35 follows on p. 103.
Table 36 follows on p. 104.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Communications Services
in the USSR and the US
4811 Telephone communications (wire and radio)
Telephone service
4821 Telegraph c o cations (wire and radio)
Telegraph service
4899 Ccumunications services, n.e.c. J
Mail service
US
Long-distance telephone calls
Long-distance telephone calls
Home or private telephone subscription
Home or private telephone subscription
Business of enterprise telephone subscription
Business or enterprise telephone subscription
Letters
Letters
Post cards
Post cards
Rubles per Unit
Dollars per Unit
Ratio
(Ruble-Dollar)
4.5
300
48.00
6.2
500
102.00
4.9
0.40
0.03
13.3
0.25
0.01
25.0
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Table 36
Weighted Price Ratios of Communications Services
in the USSR and the US
SIC No.
Item
(Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $)
(Million Rubles)
(Rubles per Dollar) (Rubles per Dollar)
Communications services
4,250.8
3,063.9
6.6 6.4
4811
Telephone service
3,400.4
920.1
5.2 4.8
Long-distance telephone calls
4.5
1,180.4
280.1
Home or private telephone
subscriptions
6.2
1,200.0
90.0
Business or enterprise
subscriptions
4.9
1,020.0
550.0
4821 Telegraph service
Telegrams
4899 Mail service
Letters
Post cards
13.3
25.0
151.4 1,090.1 5.1 5.1
699.0 1,053.7 14.0 14.2
66o.o 911.2
39.0 142.5
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For the USSR an average rate for electric power.consumed by in-
dustry has been computed by using an average rate for each of 53
power supplying organizations. ' The average rate for each area
was weighted against power consumption 1 3 for the corresponding
area, thus yielding a weighted average rate for the USSR for in-
dustrial consumers. Rates used in this computation were in effect
in 1949. A rate reduction of 10 percent was made in January 1950.
It is not clear whether the reduction applied to the annual charge
based on transformer capacity as well as the rate per kilowatt-hour
consumed. For purposes of this research aid, it has been assumed
that the reduction applied to both.
Some industrial plants and municipalities in both countries
generate their own power. This power has been arbitrarily priced at
the amount these enterprises would have paid had the power been pur-
chased from public supply sources.
The rate for residential consumers in the US has been derived by
taking the average of the category 154/ for 1950. The average rate
for commercial consumers in the US was assumed to be approximately
equal to the rate for the category "Small Light and Power" as defined
by Edison Electric Institute. IZ/ The average rate for residential
and commercial consumers was derived by weighting the two rates by
the proportion of power consumption accounted for by each category.
According to, a 1949 Soviet source, 156 residential and commercial
consumers in the USSR are divided into nine rate groups. The first
and second groups are basically residential consumers and are charged
35 and 40 kopecks per kilowatt-hour, respectively. The remaining
groups fall into a category referred. to as "commercial" in the US.
The rates for these groups vary from 30 kopecks per kilowatt-hour
for transportation terminals, military barracks, and the like to
250 kopecks per kilowatt-hour for churches, restaurants, and gasoline
filling stations.
There are no available data. on power consumption for each of the
nine rate groups. An analysis of the type of consumers included in
each group indicates that the second group, with a rate of 40 kopecks
per kilowatt-hour, would account for the largest proportion of power
consumption in the residential and commercial category. The next two
largest groups would probably be those with rates of 35 and 60 kopecks
per kilowatt-hour. An average rate of 40 kopecks per kilowatt-hour
is assumed to be realistic. This rate should be considered as a minimum,
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however, as the average rate may be as high as 50 kopecks per kilo-
watt-hour. No adjustment has been made for the 1950 price reduction
as it is believed that this reduction did not affect rates for resi-
dential and commercial consumers. There is evidence that the 1949
prices for these consumers were still effective in 1955. 157
Gross value weights for industrial, residential, and commercial
consumers for both countries have been computed by multiplying the
amount of electric power consumed by the average selling price per
kilowatt-hour.
Table 37* gives specifications, prices, and price ratios of electric
power in the USSR and the US. Table 38** gives weighted price ratios of
electric power in the USSR and the US.
15. Rail Freight Transportation.
Ruble-dollar ratios based on railroad freight rates, as shown in
Table 39,*** range from 2.3 to 1 for manufactured iron and steel to
6.2 to 1 for iron ore with a weighted average ratio based on US revenue
data of 4.2 to 1 for all commodities. The ratios for individual com-
modities are based on US revenue per ton for the US average length of
haul, compared with the Soviet freight rate for the US average length
of haul. The results from such a comparison are believed to have a
relatively low margin of error, with a few exceptions, because of the
excellent data available on US traffic and revenue and Soviet freight
tariff.
Ruble-dollar ratios for individual commodities based on Soviet
freight rate per ton for Sovietaverage length of haul, compared
with the US revenue per ton for the Soviet average length of haul, were
not determined, because data on Soviet average length of haul are avail-
able only for major commodity groups and because freight rates vary for
some of the individual commodites within a major commodity group. In
addition, available US revenue data are for relatively large mileage
blocks, so that the US revenue figure based on Soviet average length
of haul might have a significant margin of error.
Table
37
follows
on p. 107.
Table
38
follows
on p. 108.
Table
39
follows
on p. 109.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Electric Power
in the USSR and the US
Specifications
Kopecks Cents Ratio
SIC No. Item USSR US per Kilowatt-Hour per Kilowatt-Hour, (Ruble-Dollar)
4911 Electric light and power
Industrial
Residential and commercial
15.6 1.01 15.4
4o.o 2.78 14.4
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Weighted Price Ratios of Electric Power in the USSR and the US
Table 38
Price Ratio US USSR
SIC No. Item (Rubles per Dollar) (Million US $) -a/ (Million Rubles)
4911 Electric light and power 5,182.0 14,160.0
Industrial
Residential and Commercial
15.4
14.4
1,929.0 9,360.0 1
cf
3,253.0 4,800.0
US Mix
Soviet Mix
(Rubles per Dollar)
(Rubles per Dollar
14.8
15.1
a. Consumption data used in computing values are from source 15th .
b. Assumed that industry consumed about two-thirds of the electric power produced in the USSR during 1950-55. 159
c. Consumption data used in computing value are from source ILO/.
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Table 39
Calculation of Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Rail Freight Transportation
Freight
Revenue
Soviet 1949
Soviet 1950
Metric Tons
Received
US Average
US Average
Rate per
Rate per
Short Tons
Originated,
US, 1951 b
by US
Railroads,
Short-Line
Haul per
Short-Line
Haul per
US Revenue
per Metric
Metric Ton
for US Average
Ratio of
1950 to
Metric Ton,
for US Average
Originated,
(Thousand
1951 c
Short Ton J
Short Ton e/
Ton
$)
Haul J
1949 Soviet
Haul J
Ratio
Commodity
US, 1951 J*
Metric Tons)
US
(Miles)
(Kilometers)
(us
(Rubles)
Rate Yl
(Rubles)
(Ruble-Dollar)
Wheat
365,472
332
2,186,134
392
630
6.60
28.32
0.85
24.0
3.6
Corn
189,238
171
1,013,653
368
590
5.94
27.12
0.85
23.0
3.9
Irish potatoes
37,881
34
653,791
1,093
1,759
19.23
97.75
0.80
78.2
4.1
Fresh meat
25,592
23
763,738
943
1,517
33.20
187.54
0.80
150.0
- 4.5
Wheat flour
93,934
85
605,273
658
1,059
7.11
47.30
0.85
40.2
5.6
Food products, n.e.c.
104,241
94
1,650,029
925
1,488
17.55
88.50
0.80
70.8
4.0
Anthracite coal
281,638
255
899,087
187
300
3.54
13.44
0.90
12.0
3.4
Bituminous coal
3,592,931
3,259
10,998,411
300
482
3.37
19.83
0.90
17.8
5.3
Coke
245,881
222
728,234
197
316
3.28
14.29
0.90
12.9
3.9
Petroleum products
Gasoline
117,508
107
593,649
242
389
5.55
36.63
0.90
33.0
6.o
Fuel and road oils
118,780
107
649,625
343
550
6.08
31.63
0.90
28.5
4.7
Refined petroleum, n.e.c.
83,283
75
893,454
587
944
11.91
57.69
0.90
51.9
4.4
Ores
Iron ore
1,520,103
1,379
2,092,905
158
254
1.52
l0.40
0.90
9.4
6.2
Iron and steel
Manufactured iron and steel
327,490
296
3,239,333
437
702
10.94
27.71
0.90
24.9
2.3
Iron and steel pipe
84,394
76
1,385,341
792
1,274
18.22
58.63
0.90
52.8
2.9
Scrap iron
244,590
222
1,164,507
215
346
5.25
16.93
0.90
15.2
2.9
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Calculation of Ruble-Dollar Ratios for 'Rail Freight Transportation
(Continued)
Freight
Revenue
Soviet 1949
Soviet 1950
Metric Tons
Received
US Average
US Average
Rate per
Rate per
Short Tons
Originated,
US, 1951 t
by US
Railroads,
Short-Line
Haul per
Short-Line
Haul per
US Revenue
per Metric
Metric Ton
for US Average
Ratio of
1950 to
Metric Ton,
for US Average
Originated,
(Thousand
1951 c
Short Ton J
Short Ton 5
Ton
J
Haul /
1949 Sovilet
Haul 1
Ratio
Commodity
US,.1951 J*
Metric Tons)
US
(Miles)
(Kilometers)
(us
(Rubles)
Rate J
(Rubles
(Ruble-Dollar)
Mineral building materials
Gravel and sand
584,591
530
665,093
85
137
1.26
8.50
0.75
6.4
5.1
Crushed stone
486,087
441
700,480
117
188
1.59
10.36
0.75
7.8
4.9
Phosphate rock
205,188
186
613,699
295
474
3.30
15.13
0.90
13.6
4.1
Lumber, shingles
280,123
254
3,566,262
1,090
1,754
14.03
72.05
0.85
61.2
4.4
Portland cement
286,107
260
1,244,865
170
273
4.80
19.00
0.90
17.1
3.6
Chemicals
Sodium products
87,283
79
659,477
411
660
8.33
35.97
0.70
25.2
3.0
Fertilizers, n.e.c.
123,599
112
564,266
291
567
5.04
26.36
0.70
18.4
3.7
Chemicals, n.e.c.
83,712
76
1,225,770
808
1,300
16.13
65.04
0.70
45.5
2.8
Machinery and equipment
Machinery, machines
32,704
30
865,018
803
1,292
28.83
123.00
0.80
98.4
3.4
Passenger automobiles
14,557
13
705,822
787
1,266
54.29
269.00
0.57
153.3
2.8
Vehicle parts, n.e.c.
74,380
67
1,664,942
751
1,208
24.85
118.50
0.80
94.8
3.8
Paperboard, fiberboard
56,971
52
727,881
710
1,142
14.00
67.60
0.70
47.3
3.4
Feed
177,579
161
806,318
363
583
5.03
27.12
0.85
23.0
4.6
Total or average,
all commodities
14,175,284
12,857
77,356,097
344
553
6.02
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Table 39
Calculation of Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Rail Freight Transportation
(Continued)
a. One percent sample. 1 1
b. One percent sample. Data in column 1 multiplied by 0.907 to convert to metric tons.
c. 162/
. 1 3
e. Data in column 4 multiplied by 1.609 to convert to kilometers.
f. Column 3 divided by column 2.
g. All of the commodities listed were obtained from source 164 with the following exceptions: for phosphate rock the rate for ores and ore concentrates was used; for
refined petroleum, n.e.c., the rate for kerosine was used.
h. Rate reductions for 1950 over 1949 from source 1651.
i. Column 7 multiplied by column 8.
j. Column 9 divided by column 6, with the exception of the ratio for all commodities. This ratio was obtained by weighting the individual ruble-dollar ratios by the
freight revenues for each commodity given in column 3.
k. Not elsewhere counted.
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Specifications, Prices, and Price Ratios of Highway Construction
and Multistory Housing in the USSR and the US
Rubles Dollars Ratio
Type of Construction USSR US per Unit per Ui;dt (Ruble-Dollar)
Highway Black top highway, 6 meters Bituminous concrete highway, 517,882 45,970.00
(19.68 feet) wide, Leningrad 20 feet wide, N.Y. State per kilo- per kilo-
meter a/ meter 11.3
Multistory at Kishinev, Multistory (low-cost 1,407 99.10
Moldavian SSR, 1950-51 housing), Buffalo, N.Y., per square per square
1950-52 meter C meter 15.4
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APPENDIX C
GAPS IN INTELLIGENCE
The lack of information on Soviet prices in 1950 for various seg-
ments of the economy represents a major gap in intelligence.
Price data are not available for ordnance items, leather and
leather products, and miscellaneous manufactures. Price data are
inadequate or unavailable for the,following machinery and equip-
ment items -- agricultural machinery (other than tractors), loco-
motives and railroad equipment, aircraft, ships and boats, com-
mercial machines, food products machinery, printing machinery, petro-
leum refining equipment, and most chemical equipment.
Currently, available ruble-dollar ratios for construction are
inadequate. Research is being continued, however, in order to exploit
available data and increase the coverage for this sector.
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APPENDIX D
SOURCE REFERENCES
Evaluations, following the classification entry and designated
"Eval.," have the following significance:
S
ource of Information
Doc. - Documentary
1
- Confirmed by other
sources
A
- Completely reliable
2
- Probably true
B
- Usually reliable
3
- Possibly true
C
- Fairly reliable
4
- Doubtful
D
- Not usually reliable
5
- Probably false
E
F
- Not reliable
- Cannot be judged
6
- Cannot be judged
"Documentary" refers to original documents of foreign governments
and organizations; copies or translations of such documents by a
staff officer; or information extracted from such documents by a staff
officer, all of which may carry the field evaluation "Documentary."
Evaluations not otherwise designated are those appearing on the
cited document; those designated "RR" are by the author of this report.
No "RR" evaluation is given when the author agrees with the evaluation
on the cited document.
25X1A5a1
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3. Organization for European Economic Cooperation. An International
Comparison of National Products and the Purchasing Power of
Currencies, by Milton Gilbert and Irving Kravis, nd. U. Eval. RR 2.
4. Bureau of the Budget. Standard Industrial Classification Manual,
vol 2, May 49. U. Eval. RR 2.
5. CIA. CIA/RR 78, The Soviet Economy in 1955 and Plans for 1956-61,
21 Sep 56, p. 90-91. S.
6. President of the US. Economic Report of the President Transmitted
to Congress, 24 January 1956, p. 1 U.
7.
8.
9.
10. Kaser, M.C. "Soviet Statistics of Wages
. 42. U. Eval. RR 3.
25X1A5a1
and Prices," Soviet Studies,
11. 25X1A5a1
12. President of the US (6, above), p. 165. U.
13. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industry Classification Manual
for the 1947 Interindustry Relations Study, 20 Mar 53. U.
Eval. RR 2.
14. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table I-- Interindustry Flow of
Goods and Services, by Industry of Origih and Destination, Oct 52.
U. Eval. RR 2.
15. 25X1A5a1
16. Protopopov, S.N. Analiz khoz a stvennoy deyatel'nosti stroyek i
stroitel'nykh organizatsiy Analysis of the Economic Activity of
Building and Construction Organizations), Moscow, 1952,
p. 76, 251, 307. U. Eval. RR 2.
17. Kaser, op. cit. (10, above).
18. CIA. ORB Project 14.1541, Soviet Investment Policy and Selective
Analysis of Investment Statistics (to be published). S.
19. Ibid.
20. CIA. ORR Project 14.441, Soviet National Accounts in Current Rubles
for 1953 (to be published). S.
21. CIA. CIA/RR 78 (5, above), p. 93-94. S.
22. Ibid., p. 90-91. S.
23. Ibid., p. 93-94. S.
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24. President of the US (6, above), p. 165. U.
25,. Ibid., P. 199. U.
26. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median Prices for Selected
Items of Clothing, Shoes, and Textile Housefurnishings, Mar 50,
25X1A2g unpublished. U. Eval. RR 2.
27.
28. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median Prices for Selected
Items of Clothing, Shoes, and Textile Housefurnishings, Mar 50,
unpublished. U. Eval. RR 2.
29. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Special rpt P-E no 1B,
Occupational Characteristics, 1956. U. Eval. RR 2.
30. Commerce. "Incomes of Physicians, Dentists, and lawyers, 1949-51,"
Survey of Current Business, Jul 52, p. 5-7. U. Eval. RR 2.
31. Ibid.
32. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Special rpt P-E no 1B,
Occupational Characteristics, 1956. U. Eval. RR 2.
33. Commerce. National Income a Supplement to Survey of Current
Business, 1954, p. 197. U. Eval. RR 2.
34. Ibid., p. 201. U. Eval. RR 2.
35. Commerce, Bureau-of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the US,
1952, 73d, 1952, p. 219. U. Eval. RR 2.
36. Commerce. National Income a Supplement to Survey of Current
Business, 195 , p. 207. U. Eval. RR 2.
37. Health, Education, and Welfare. "Social Welfare Expenditures,
Fiscal 1955," Social Security Bulletin, Oct 56. U. Eval. RR 2.
38. Commerce. Survey of Current Business, Jul 56, p. 21. U.
Eval. RR 2.
39. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the US,
1956, 1956, p. 404. U. Eval. RR 2.
40. Commerce. National Income, a Supplement to Survey of Current
Business, 1954, p. 209. U. Eval. RR 2.
41. Ibid., p. 208. U. Eval. RR 2.
42. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Summary of Governmental
Finances in 1955, 20 Aug 56, p. 7. U. Eval. RR 2.
43. Ibid.
44. Commerce. Survey of Current Business, Jul 56, p. 22. U. Eval. RR 2.
45. Ibid., p. 21. U. Eval. RR 2.
46. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the US,
1956, 1956, p. 243. U. Eval. RR 2.
47. CIA. FDD Summary no 794, 18 Jan 56, p. 120. OFF USE. Eval. RR 1.
48. USSR, Verkhovnyy Sovet SSSR. Zasedaniya verkhovnogo soveta SSSR
pervaya sessiya, stenograficheskoy otchet (Proceedings of the
Supreme Soviet of the USSR, 1st Session: Stenographic Report),
Moscow, 1954, p. 227. U. Eval. Doc. (hereafter referred to as
USSR, Verkhovnyy Sovet SSSR. Zasedaniya)
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49. Finansy SSSR, no 4, Apr 56, p. 19. U. Eval. RR 1.
50. CIA. FDD Translation no 566, 29 Jun 56, p. 247. OFF USE. Eval. Doc.
51. Ibid., p. 195. OFF USE. Eval. Doc.
52. Commerce. National Income, a Supplement to Survey of Current
Business, 1954, p. l9 b. U. Eval. RR 2.
53. Ibid., p. 201. U. Eval. RR 2.
54. USSR, Ministry of Finance. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya smet v tsenakh
de stvu shchikh na 1 Yanvarya 1950 (Price List for Making
Estimates in Prices Effective 1 January 1950), pt 1, Moscow, 1950,
p. 415-417. U. Eval. Doc. (hereafter referred to as USSR,
Ministry of Finance. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya)
55. USSR. Spravochnik metallurgy o tsvetnym metallam (Metallurgist
Handbook of Nonferrous Metals) vol 1, Moscow, 1953, p. 799-828. U.
Eval. Doc.
56. NIS 26, sec 62-B, p. 62-9, 62-10. C.
57. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1951, 1954, p. 316.
U. Eval. RR 2.
58. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1950, 1953,
P? 363-364. U. Eval. RR 2.
59. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Circular no 7538, Average Heating
Values of American Coals By Rank and By states, Dec 49, p. 2.
U. Eval. RR 2.
60. CIA. FDD Translation no 566, 29 Jun 56. OFF USE. Eval. Doc.
61. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1951, 1954,
p. 462. U. Eval. RR 2.
62. Ibid., p. 316. U. Eval. RR 2.
Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1950, 1953,
P. 363-364. U. Eval. RR 2.
63. Commerce,-Bureau of the Census. Census of Manufactures 1947,
vol 2, 1949, p. 386-399. U. Eval. RR 2.
64. USSR. Spravochnik-tsennik na osnovnyye stroitel'nyye, tekhnicheskiye
i vspomogatel'nyye materialy proizvodstvenno-tekhnicheskogo
naznacheni a ihstrumenty i avtozapchasti v tsenakh 1950 goda,
uchetom snizheniya tsen 1 Yula 1950 (Price Handbook on Basic
Construction, Technical, and Supplementary Materials for Technical
Production Purposes, Instruments, and Automotive Spare Parts, 1950
Prices, Taking into Account the 1 July 1950 Price Reductions), vol 2,
pt 1, Baku, 1950. U. Eval. Doc. (hereafter referred-to as USSR.
Spravochnik-tsennik, vol 2, pt 1)
65. Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter, 13 Feb 50. U. Eval. RR 2.
66. USSR, Ministry of Finance. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya (54, above),
P? 390. U. Eval. Doc.
118
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67.
68. USSR, Ministry of Finance. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya (54, above),
p. 338. U. Eval. Doc.
69. Ibid.
70. Ibid., p. 391. U. Eval. Doc.
71. Perry, John H., ed. Chemical Business Handbook, New York, 1954.
U. Eval. Doc.
72. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unpublished Industry Report. U.
73. Perry, op. cit. (71, above).
74. Platt's Oil Price Handbook and Oilmanac for 1950, Cleveland, 1951.
val. RR 2.
75. USSR. Spravochnik-tsennik, vol 2, pt 1 (64, above).
76. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1951, 1954,
p. 992-1011. U. Eval. RR 2.
77. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Annual Survey of Manufactures, 1951,
p. 86-87. U. Eval. RR 2.
78. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook 1951, 1954,
p. 246. U. Eval. RR 2.
79. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Annual Survey of Manufactures, 1951,
p. 209. _ U. Eval. RR 2.
80. USSR, Ministry of Machine Tool Building. Preyskurant optovykh tsen na
25X1 A5a181?
abrazivn e izdeliya (Price List of Wholesale Prices for Abrasive
Products), Moscow, 1949. U. Eval. Doc.
82. Engineering News Record, 6 Jul 50, p. 93, 97, 98? U. Eval. RR
83. Stroitel'na a promyshlennost', no 8, Aug 55, p. 39?' U. Eval. RR 2.
84. Ibid., p. 38-42. Eval. RR 2.
85. Means, Robert S. Building Construction Cost Data, 1951, Duxbury, Mass.,
1951. U. Eval. RR 2.
86. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities in the Revised Index 19 7-50, group 11,
Feb 52. U. Eval. RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities 1951-53, group 11, Oct 54. U. Eval. RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Base Value"Weights for Groups,
Subgroups, Product Classes and Individual Commodities, Apr 52,
p. 5. U. Eval. RR 2.
87. CIA. CIA/RR RA-9, Ruble-Dollar Ratios for Prices of Machine Tools,
Metalforming Machinery, Textile Machinery, and Abrasive Products,
10 Oct 56, p? 35? C. Eval. RR 2.
88. USSR. Spravochnik-tsennik, vol 2, pt 1 (64, above), p. 199.
U. Eval. Doc.
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89. American Iron and Steel Institute Yearbook, 1950, New York, 1954.
U. Eval. RR 2.
90. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Annual Survey of Manufactures, 1951,
p. 211-213. U. Eval. RR 2.
91. Ibid., p. 211. U. Eval. RR 2.
92. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook, 1951, 1954.
U. Eval. RR 2.
93. USSR, Ministry of the Coal Industry. Nomenklaturnyy spravochnik i
tseny na materialy i oborudovaniye primenya em e v ugol'noy
promyshlennosti: gruppa II: tsvetnyye metally (Nomenclature Hand-
book and Prices for Materials and Equipment Used in the Coal Industry:
Group II: Nonferrous Metals), Moscow, 1950. U. Eval. Doe. (hereafter
referred to as USSR, Ministry of the Coal Industry. Nomenklaturnyy
spravochnik)
94.
25X1A2g 95.
96. Steel: the Magazine of Metalworking, Cleveland, 7 Jan 52, P. 558.
U. Eval. RR 2.
97. USSR, Ministry of the Metallurgical Industry. Preyskurant optovykh
tsen na kachestvennu stal' (List of Wholesale Prices for
Standard Steel), MObCOW, 1949. U. Eval. Doc.
98. 25X1A2g
99. Steel: the Magazine of Metalworking, Cleveland, 7 Jan 52, p. 558.
U. Eval. RR 2.
25X1A5a1
25X1A5a1
101. USSR, Ministry of Heavy Machine Building. -Preyskurant optovykh
tsen na lit' ye iz serogo chuguna, lit'ye stal'noye okovki
molotovnyyei pressovyye shtampovki (Price List of Wholesale
Prices for Gray Iron Castings, Cast Steel, Forged, Pressed, and
Stamped Products), Moscow, 1949. U. Eval. Doc. (hereafter
referred to as.USSR, Ministry of Heavy Machine Building.
Preyskurant tsen na lit'ye)
102. American Iron and Steel Institute Yearbook, 1950, New York, 1954.
U. Eval. RR 2.
103. USSR, Ministry of'Heavy Machine Building. Preyskurant tsen na
lit'ye (101, above).
104. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Annual Survey of Manufactures, 1951,
p. 211-213. U. Eval. RR 2.
105. 25X1A5a1
106. USSR, Ministry of the Coal Industry. Nomenklaturnyy spravochnik
(93, above), p. 261-262. U. Eval. Doc.
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107. Interior, US Bureau of Mines. Minerals Yearbook, 1951, p. 791.
U. Eval. RR 2. _
25X1A2g 108.
log.
110.
USSR, Ministry of Finance. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya smet v
tsenakh 1949 g. (Price Handbook for Making Estimates in Prices
of 1949), pt 3, Moscow, 1949. U. Eval. Doe.
111. Avtomobil'nyy transport, no 11, 1955? 7 U Eval. RR 2.
112. USSR, Ministry of Machine Tool Building.. . U.
Preyskurant optovykh tsen
na metallorezhushchiye stanki i kuznechno-pressovo e oborudovaniye
(Price List of Wholesale Prices for Metalcutting Machine Tools and
Forging and Pressing Equipment), Moscow, 1950. U. Eval. Doc.
113. Office of Price Stabilization. Base Prices of Machine Tools,
2 Feb 53. U. Eval. RR 2.
114. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wholesale Price Indexes for
Special Groupings of Machinery and Steel Products, Washington,
1952. U. Eval RR 2.
115. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and. Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities in the Revised Index 1947-50., group 11,
Feb 52. U. Eval. RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities 1951-53, group 11, Oct 57-.U. Eval. RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Base Value Weights for Groups,
Subgroups, Product Classes and Individual Commodities, Apr 52,
p. 5. U. Eval. RR 2.
116. Office of Price Stabilization. Base Prices of Machine Tools,
2 Feb 53. U. Eval. RR 2.
117. Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities in the Revised Index 1947-50, group 11,
Feb 52. U. Eval.RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices and Price Relatives for
Individual Commodities 1951-53, group 11, Oct 54. U. Eval. RR 2.
Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Base Value Weights for Groups,
Subgroups, Product Classes and Individual Commodities, Apr 52,
p. 5. U. Eval. RR 2.
118. CIA. CIA/RR PR-98, Development and Potential of the Textiles
Industry in the Soviet Bloc, 5 Feb 55, p. 34-35. S.
119. USSR, Ministry of Machine Building and Instrument Building.
Preyskurant optovykh tsen na oborudovaniye dlya legkoy
promyshlennosti i massovyye zapasnyye detali dlya tekstil'nykh,
obuvnykh i trikotazhnykh mashin (Price List of Wholesale Prices
of Equipment for Light Industry and Mass Spare Parts for Textile,
Footwear, and Knitted Wear Machines),Moscow, 1949. U. Eval. Doc.
S-E-C-R-E-T
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120.
121.
Ibid., p. 66, 69. U. Eval. RR 1.
122.
USSR. Preyskurant opto kh tsen na turbiny parovyye, gidroturbiny,
turbokompressornyye mashiny i turbonasosy (Price List of Wholesale
Prices for Steam Turbines, Hydroturbines, Turbocompressor Machines
and Turbine Pam-Ds),Moscow.1949. U'. Eval. Doc.
25X1A2
123.
g
124.
USSR, Ministry of Finave. Tsennik dlya sostavleniya (54, above).
125.
USSR, Ministry of Communications Equipment Industry. Preyskurant
o to kh tsen na svetotekhnicheskiye izdeliya (Price List of
Wholesale Prices for Lighting Fixtures , Moscow, 1949. P. 5-7.
U. Eval. Doc.
126.
CIA. CIA/SI 82-52, Study of USSR Broadcast Receivers, 1 Dec 52.
S/NOFORN.
25X1A2g
127.
128.
CIA. CIA SI 82-52 126, above).
129.
CIA. CIA/RR 11, Soviet Bloc Production of Civilian Radio and
Television Receivers, 26 Sep 52. S NOFORN.
130.
Ibid.
131.
CIA. CIA/RR 11-S-1, Production of Civilian Radio and Television
Receivers in the Soviet Bloc, 13 Dec 54. S NOFORN.
2
25X1A5
1
.
13
a
133.
FCC. Interstate Message Telephone Rates, Effective 1 Feb 1946,
25X1A2g
134. National Association of Railroad and Public Utilities Commission.
Compilation of Local Service Telephone Rates in the US in Effect
June 1953, Washington, May 53. U. Eval. RR 2.
135.
25X1A2g
136. National Association of Railroad and Public Utilities Commission
(134, above).
137?
25X1A2g
138. Western Union. Annual Report to the FCC, form 0, 1950. U.
Eval. RR 2.
139. 25X1A2g
140.
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141. Ibid.
142. FCC. Statistics on the Communications Industry in the US for the
Year Ended 31 December 1950, 1951. U. Eval. RR 2.
143. CIA. ORR Project 26-52 (WP T, Soviet War Potential, 1952-57,
12 Jan 53. S-
144. FCC. Statistics on the Communications Industry in the US for the
Year Ended 31 December 1950, 1951. Eval.RR 2.
145. CIA. CIA RR RA 12, Economic Intelligence Statistical Handbook,
26 Feb 57, p. 145. S.
146. FCC. Statistics on the Communications Industry in the US for the
Year Ended 31 December 1950, 1951. U. Eval. RR 2.
147. Ibid.
148. CIA. ORR Project 26-52 (WP) (143, above).
149. Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the US,
1952, 73d ed, 1952, p. 219. U. Eval. RR 2.
150,, UN. Statistical Yearbook 1954, New York, 1954. U. Eval. RR 2.
151. Edison Electric Institute. Statistical Bulletin for the Year 1953,
New York, May 54, p. 27, 45. U. Eval. RR 2.
152. USSR. Sbornik rukovodyashchikh materialov i konsul'tatsiy o
stroitel'stvu (Handbook of Basic Materials and Consultations
Relating to Construction), no 7, Moscow, 1949, p. 30. U. Eval., Doc.
153. Federal Power Commission. Electric Power Requirements in the USSR,
.1950, 1952. S.
154. Edison Electric Institute. Statistical Bulletin for the Year 1953,
New York, May 54, p. 27, 45. U. Eval. RR 2.
155. Ibid.
po
156. USSR. Sbornik rukovodyaschikh materialov i konsul'tatsiy
.stroitel'stvu (Handbook of Basic Materials and Consultations
Relating to Construction), no 7, Moscow, 1949, p. 30. U. Eval. Doc.
157. CIA. FDD R-293, 23 Jun 55. C. Eval. RR 2.
158. Edison Electric Institute. Pocketbook of Electric Industry
Statistics, New York, 1955, p. 17, 36. U. Eval. RR 2.
159. Trud, 29 Mar 55. U. Eval. RR 2.
160. Kutsenov, V.A. Vo ros tekhnika-ekonomicheskogo proyektirovaniya
krupnykh gidrostantsii, v energosistemakh (The Problems of Technical-
Economical Projecting of Large Hydroelectric Power Stations and
Energy Systems), Moscow, 1953, p. 160. U. Eval. RR 2.
161. Interstate Commerce Commission, Bureau of Transport Economics and
Statistics. Carload Waybill Analyses, 1951, Distribution of
Freight Traffic and Revenue Averages by Commodity Classes,
Terminations in 1951, statement-no 5220, Washington, Jun 52.
U. Eval. RR 2.
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162.
Ibid.
163.
Ibid.
164.
USSR.
Spravochnik po tarifam zheleznodorozhnogo transporta (Handbook
of Tariffs for Railroad Transport), Moscow, 1949. U. Eval. RR 1.
165.
Chernomordik, D.I. Zheleznodorozhn e gruzovyye tarify SSSR
(Railroad Cargo Tariffs in USSR), Moscow, 1953. U. Eval. RR 2.
166.
Lukjanow, W. Unpublished information from a ruble-dollar construction
%
ratio study, appendix 16, Aug 55. U. Eval. RR 2.
167.
Engineering News Record, no 3,.13 Jul 50, p. 101.
U.
Eval. RR 2.
168.
25X1A2g
169.
Engineering News Record, no 10, 4 Sep 52, p. 149.
U.
Eval. RR 2.
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