Current map of financial situation in Lithuania shows that residents of some municipalities are in a really bad situation. Vilnius region, paying the highest price for the heating, is suffering from high unemployment, while the avarage wage and pensions are one of the lowest in the country, writes delfi.lt with reference to Kaunas Day on 6 February.

Similar situation is in town of Neringa, where heating is one of the most costly, avarage wage amounts to only 1 200 LTL, pension – 670 LTL

Huge heating prices are also impoverishing residents of Prienai region, who earn the same avarage wage as people frm Vilnius region, but pensions hardly reach up to 700 LTL.

Paradoxically, residents from municipalities with low heating prices earn more and receive higher pensions. Currently, heating is the cheapest in Elektrėnai municipality, where avarage wage amounts to 1 700 LTL (the same as in Kaunas), and pensions are one of the highest in Lithuania – 800 LTL.

Didžiausios vidutinės senatvės pensijos – 800-850 litų – Lietuvoje mokamos Visagino miesto gyventojams.

Highest pensions, reaching up to 850 LTL, are paid to residents of Visaginas.

According to Swedbank’s representative Odeta Bložienė, regional inequalities are forming a vicious circle. “A small number of businesses leads to low average wages, which leads to the need for social support – all of which encourage emigration. When people emigrate from the country or migrate to cities, regions remain with uncompetitive labor force – it does not attract foreign investment and does not create new jobs. The spinning of this wheel brings worries about the future”, – warns O. Bložienė.