Although last year the volumes of computers traded on exchanges was high, in the first quarter of 1992 only 4% to 8% of office equipment was purchased on exchanges. Nine-tenths of all office equipment, including computers, sold on Russian exchanges was sold at the Russian Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange and the Moscow Commodity Exchange. The majority of computer buyers now apparently prefer to purchase equipment from specialised suppliers. At present, the computer exchange rate to the US dollar is close to the market rouble rate. In the past, the computer rate was far better, triggering a lot of speculative buying. In periods of high inflation, computers have also been bought as a safer way of holding capital than roubles. However, now computer prices have risen to the point where other commodities are much more attractive.
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