Until 1952, for as long as the system of guaranteed supply was in place, we cannot talk about the issue of the living standard in the true sense of the concept. In the middle of the 1950s the question of how to improve the living standard of the Yugoslav (and thus also Slovenian) population became one of the priority tasks of the socialist regime, and a lot of emphasis was placed on it. The Social Plan of the Economic Development of the People’s Republic of Slovenia, outlined in the circumstances of the Slovenian society transforming from a rural into an industrial society in 1958, resulted in the economic policy focusing on more balanced investments and ensuring the development of the activities affecting the living standard. After 1956 the industry shifted towards producing general consumption goods. The information about the demand of Slovenian households for the period between 1955 and 1990 indicates that the available household resources (budgets), intended for personal consumption, grew gradually and constantly. The percentage of resources intended for individual categories of goods in the shopping basket kept developing in the direction of the gradual improvement of living standard. The ratio between the factors that shaped the living standard (minimum cost of living, development of wages and purchasing capacity) between 1955 and 1990 indicates that the purchasing capacity and living standard kept increasing and improving until 1980. However, after 1980 the real wages and purchasing power started regressing. Throughout the period households allocated the major percentage of household budgets towards purchasing the basic life necessities. The percentage of these gradually decreased, but still remained the most important. It was at the lowest point in the 1970s, amounting to an average of 72.8 %. On average, in the 1970s people used around 10 % less resources for the basic life necessities than in 1960 or at the end of the 1980s. At that time essential changes took place in the scope and structure of the available and spent resources for personal consumption. As far as the structure of living expenses is concerned, the percentage of expenses for food, clothing and footwear decreased, while the percentages allocated to the more permanent consumer goods, housing construction and maintenance as well as savings increased. People also spent more money for beverages, tobacco, culture, education and hygiene. At the same time the quality of food consumption also improved. The consumption of cereals (flour, bread, pasta) and fats decreased; while the consumption of meat, meat products and fish, oil, milk, cheese, eggs, fruits and vegetables increased. Higher-standard industrial products like televisions, kitchen appliances (electric stoves, refrigerators, washing machines) and cars were in great demand and their consumption increased. During the 1980s crisis, when the understanding of a better living standard as a developmental goal by the population transcended the mere material side and also started taking other aspects of life into account, Slovenia enjoyed relatively positive trends in the general consumption goods market. The population’s resources for personal use dwindled, but those who had savings used these to compensate for the decline. In general people saved less, refrained from taking out loans due to unfavourable credit and monetary policy and the restrictive policy of consumer loans, and various social benefits were on the increase as well. People believed that in comparison with the seventies, in the eighties their living standard declined. The possibilities for acquiring housing and employment worsened, and it became harder to sustain a family. People had to become more economical and limit themselves in the purchases of equipment, clothing, etc. The possibilities in the field of education and cultural life improved or remained at the approximately same level. These feelings of the people are also confirmed by the statistics.