Methodological recommendations address theoretical principles of IIP (formula, system of weights and index coverage) and of features of IIP information and methodological support. Algorithm for computing the index is based on the application of two methods - direct aggregation method and deflation method. Direct aggregation method involves using data on changes in the volume of products in quantity (for products that are homogeneous and their quality remains constant over time, for example, in mining) or labor costs (man-hours worked on products with long production cycle). Deflation method should rather be used for calculating IIP by economic activity, related to the production of products with different natural units of measurement (i.e., when output of the overall products in question for the current period can be expressed in terms of cost - at actual prices), then the corresponding producer price indices are used as deflators. This article provides practical basis for IIP calculating: an algorithm for estimating the index, additional calculations and adjustments, methods for formation of a number of indices and inclusion (replacement) of products within the index. The approaches to the elimination of seasonal fluctuations are described along with software products used for this purpose; as well as international standards for dissemination and revision of data. This document is based on «International Guidelines for the industrial production index» - International Recommendations for the Index of Industrial Production - and is adjusted for statistical accounting of the industry of the CIS countries.

The article analyses main documents of international organizations that were adopted in recent years and became standards for developing and improving accounting and statistical practices in external economic activities of most countries including Russia. The author reviews main questions related to foreign trade statistics and international trade in goods in accordance with the International Merchandise Trade Statistics: Concepts and Definitions 2010 (IMTS 2010), as well as the service accounting in external economic activities based on the Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services 2010 (MSITS 2010). Differences between statistical registration of foreign trade operations in different countries and their influence on data comparability are presented.

Connections between the development of information and communication technologies and economic characteristics of regions of the Russian Federation are examined. An attempt is made for quantitative evaluation of the influence ICT have on GRP generation of Russian regions using production functions. Relation between the development level of information and communication technology and regional socio-economic is examined using structural models based on the wide range of indicators. On the basis of acquired quantitative estimates for selected regions, promising development directions for the national ICT are allocated.

The authors of this article substantiate the role and value of paid land use in generation of revenue of local and regional budgets of the Moscow region. Based on the conducted analysis and research of condition of land fund and ongoing processes of the Moscow region tax base, a conclusion is made on the necessity of developing system and methodology for the land fund and its cadastral value monitoring. The paper reviews key indicators describing the intensity of processes taking place in land fund. Statistical models of cadastral land value are proposed. These models have become the stepping stone of the method for monitoring the land fund and tax base conditions.

The author traces the changes in the differentiation between constituent entities of the Russian Federation in terms of social and economic development. Certain types of regions that vary notably are identified. It is shown that recently the differentiation of constituent entities of Russia has intensified.

The authors comment on «Vedomosti» article by G. Khanin and D. Fomin entitled «Deceitful figure against Russian economy» published on March 18, 2014. It is emphasized that criticism expressed by the authors concerning official statistics approaches to developing the system of macroeconomic indicators of Russia is unsound. The same goes for the unfounded alternative GDP evaluations on the basis of selected physical indicators proposed by G. Khanin and D. Fomin. The current framework for statistical estimate of fixed assets in accordance with the SNA methodology is explained; characteristics of methods for its implementation are presented.

This paper presents experimental calculations of the economic losses caused by mortality of rural population of the Saratov region. An alternative approach to analyzing and quantifying the degree of the economic damage caused by rural mortality in the region, which estimates the economic losses as a shortfall of gross value added, less under consumption, taking into account age, gender and class of diseases, is proposed. Based on the official statistics on gross value added size and structure of employed in the economy of Saratov region and the number and pattern of the unemployed, the levels of the regional labor productivity and per capita real consumption were calculated. These calculations helped develop some options to quantify the economic damage from mortality among different social-demographic groups of the rural population. The results of this study can be used to design preventive measures aiming to reduce population mortality in rural areas, increase life expectancy and draw up regional strategies of social-economic development of the countryside.

The article discuses general issues of methodology and practical experience in GDP international comparisons based on purchasing power parities; a brief description of the world experience is presented. Results of the 2011 Global comparison round are being analyzed.