Utilizing the results of the Household budget surveys covering the period of August 1989 — December 1990 and referring to the employees households the effect of the „marketisation" of food economy on the expenditure on food and food consumption was examined. It was shown that „marketisation", which began on August 1 1989 resulted in a dramatic increase in the expenditure on food in the households of employees. The expenditure was growing both in absolute and relative terms leading to an increase in the proportion of food expenditure in total expenditure. Although the of employees households were paying more and more for food they were at the same time forced to decrease its consumption, which resulted in a significant reduction in the energy and nutrient content of the household diet.
Agricultural production potential of north-east macroregion (MPW) is relatively small as compared to the whole country and is not always properly utilized. Main factors limiting agriculture and food economy development are as follows: poor agrotechnical conditions, relatively low level of agricultural investment, much below average work force resources in agriculture, unfavourable demographic processes and inadequate technical and social infrastructure in rural areas of MPW. The main factors supporting the agricultural development in the area are: the biggest, in the country, area of agricultural land per 1 inhabitant, fabourable area structure of private farms, big fraction of natural grassland, possibilities for production of healthy food because of relatively low industry development, and existing borders with Byelorussia, Lithuania and Kaliningrad region create opportunities for agricultural trade.