The Gomelskaya Oblast has: -3712 shops of various property forms (with total trading area of 386.7 th. sq. meters);

- 725 enterprises of public nourishment (for 60 th. seats):

- 9 wholesale enterprises of the Oblast communal property.

A total of 55 markets are operating with a total 10,260 trading places (29 markets belong to consumer's cooperation).

Over 36 thousand persons are employed in the sphere of trade and public nourishment. During 1998 the surplus of retail sales was 18.4% in comparable prices.

As per January 1, 1999, 243 enterprises of trade and nourishment were privatized. The share of non- state property forms in the sector is 52%.

Granting communal services to the population is one of the main sectors of the consumer's market, playing a great role in improving the efficiency of public production and growth of living standards of the population.

The Oblast counts 46 enterprises of communal services with 4850 employees on them.

The district Combines of Communal Services (KBOs) are granting services to the rural population through the network of complex receipt points and their branches. The stationary network of communal services today in operation in the Gomelskaya Oblast is capable to grant services or receive orders from

370 thousand of rural inhabitants (61% of total rural population). The rest of them are serviced by mobile KBO crews.

The communal enterprises are increasing the volumes of services and introduce their new types.