The article analyzes the cost and norms of the consumer basket of modern Ukrainian, examines the general level of purchasing power of the population and the size of the minimum wage for the last four years (2014 - beginning of 2018). The purpose of the study is to analyze the living standards of the working population of Ukraine on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of published normative documents and scientific literature. The methodological basis of the research is based on a scientific and objective approach to highlighting the tasks set in conjunction with scientific and analytical research methods. The basis for calculating the subsistence minimum of key social and demographic groups is the cost of the minimum sets of food, services and non-food items that are commonly referred to as a consumer basket. An analysis of the level of purchasing power of the population of Ukraine at the present stage of development of the state (2014 - early 2018) made it possible to determine the peculiarities of the standard of living of people and may be useful in shaping socioeconomic policy. During a certain period there is a rapid general trend of rising prices for all socially significant goods without exception. An average Ukrainian family has to spend more than half of its income on food. Moreover, if the average wage increased by almost 41% from 2013 to 2018, compared to January 2013, by the beginning of 2018, the cost of a set of key products in Ukraine increased by 126%. It should be noted that it is a question of calculating for one person only the most necessary minimum of food. According to the UN, the average cost of a consumer basket for one able-bodied person should be $ 17 per day, while if a person receives wages of about $ 510 a month (17 $ * 30 days), then she is on the verge of poverty. That is, based on the size of the average salary of a citizen in Ukraine in 2018 ($ 262.2 (on January 1, 2018, the hryvnia exchange rate to the dollar amounted to 28.062), on the average, Ukrainian could spend only $ 8.7, which is almost half that of the United Nations. If we take into account that about half of the population is receiving average wages, even this statistics shows that the working population is no longer on the brink of poverty, but far beyond its borders. The conclusions and generalizations of the research carried out show that despite its great potential and resources, Ukraine remains one of the poorest countries in the world at the 27th year of independence, and the majority of Ukrainians are below the poverty line.

consumer basket, food, poverty, minimum income, purchasing power, price, salary