(FORTUNE Magazine) – After three months of free-market shock therapy, the Russian government estimates that 90% of its 145 million people now live below the official poverty line. The average wage of 875 rubles per month falls way short of the 1,500 rubles that Moscow says Russians need to make ends meet. Thus it may seem small comfort to Russians that after a long period of empty shelves, stores are now brimming with food, clothing, and consumer goods. As the table shows, people would have to work for months, and spend all their pay, to buy some items now available -- even doctors, who make far less than bus drivers. Russian Premier Boris Yeltsin's moves to put the economy on a supply-and- demand basis seem to be achieving a big objective: All but the poorest Russians are raiding their mattresses and releasing billions of hoarded rubles into the economy, a vital step if the currency is to achieve international convertibility. Helping this happen: a new class of entrepreneurs like commodity dealers and, surprise, those who run or work at ad agencies. Many of them are indulging in that most capitalistic of traits, conspicuous spending.

CHART: NOT AVAILABLE CREDIT: MARIA KEEHAN FOR FORTUNE CAPTION: HOW MANY HOURS MUSCOVITES MUST WORK TO BUY. . . A car equals 15 years of a teacher's salary, nine months of a manager's.