Natural gas consumption in Moldova (without the Transnistrian region) in 2010 increased by over 5% compared with 2009. The volume of gas bought from Russia's gas giant Gazprom grew by 5.5% to 1.187,8 billion m3, while consumption of Russian gas rose by 5.8% to 1.089,8 billion m3, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a report by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE). The given figures rose after four years of stagnation in 2006-2009. The ANRE explains that consumption increased among all the categories of end-users. In 2010, the companies that do not work in the energy sector consumed by 14.6% more gas (240.6 million m3), the population – by 6.5% (340.5 million m), the public institutions – by 5.7% (50.9 million m3), while the companies operating in the energy sector – by 1.2% (457.8 million m3). The report says that the average price of the gas purchased by SA Moldovagaz from Gazprom in 2010 was 250.1 USD/1 000 m3, by 5.9% lower compared with the price for 2009 (263.9 USD/1 000 m3). In Moldovan lei, the purchase price paid by Moldova rose by 5.9% owing to the depreciation of the national currency – from 2,920 lei to 3,093 lei per 1 000 m3.