The article reveals the basic tendencies of trade and catering development, the elimination of certain deficiencies, public supervisors aid in improving the culture of trade services, involvement in the trade of local resources, increase in enterprises for processing of agricultural products, strengthening of staff of regional consumer societies, introduction of progressive forms of organization and service in rural areas. In 1961–1965 the issues of trade and catering imposed 32 times on the discussion of the Mari Party Committee Office. The decisive role in determining the direction and nature of the Republic Ministry of Trade had a resolution of the CC CPSU and the USSR Council of Ministers “On further development and improvement of public catering”. A lot of attention was paid to improving the trade and public catering in rural areas of the country. In just the years of the Eighth Five-Year Plan the volume of trade has increased in 1,6 times.