Telegram to L.M. Kaganovich, August 23, 1931

Source: Tom 17

Kaganovich.

The resolution on consumer cooperatives seems to me inadequate. It does not address the fundamental question of prices and pricing policy. Given the prevalence among cooperative workers of a spirit of speculation and outright NEP-era profiteering in setting retail prices, the question of prices and pricing policy cannot be bypassed. First of all, a mixed price committee should be established under the Council of People's Commissars. Furthermore, prices in commercial stores should be reduced immediately by about 30 percent. Finally, fixed prices for baked bread should be established for workers' districts, and fixed prices for baked bread for non-workers' districts, the latter not to exceed 50 kopecks per kilogram. As for Yakovlev's amendments concerning state farms entering the market, and to some extent collective farms as well, I am entirely in favor of them. Moreover, I am in favor of allowing Supreme Council of the National Economy associations that produce for the mass consumer to open their own stores immediately. I have a whole series of other remarks as well, but more on that in a letter.

Stalin

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Source: Stalin and Kaganovich: Correspondence, 1931-1936, p. 60.

RGASPI. F. 558. Op. 11. D. 76. L. 30, 31.

Note: The question of organizing Supreme Council department stores was examined at the Politburo session of September 18, 1931. By January 1932, 83 department stores had been opened, which supplied goods to workers and employees of enterprises assigned to them.

See also: Letter to L.M. Kaganovich and V.M. Molotov, September 23, 1931.