More Russians keep track of US currency fluctuations in 2017.
MOSCOW, July 4, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to dollar exchange rate forecast made by Russians in the next three months and one year as well as what currency they choose to keep savings in.
In the short-term perspective Russians expect the ruble to weaken (persons who provided more precise forecast for U.S. currency (59%) pointed to 62 rub. in a three-month perspective). This figure will be higher in a year (64 rub. according to 47% of respondents). The forecasts were given amid official dollar to ruble exchange rate of 59 rubles per US dollar.
Much more Russians are interested in exchange market than it was six months ago: 58% keep track of the situation (48% in June 2016; 47% in January 2017). This share is higher among respondents with high financial self-assessment (62%) as well as among the 25-34-year-olds (63%).
Opportunities for saving money keep growing. The share of Russians who reported to have no savings in July 2015 was 41%; in contract, in June 2017 this percentage is 34%. At the same time, as usually an overwhelming majority of persons who have savings keep them in Russian rubles (63% across sample). US dollar (5%), Euro (3%) and other currencies (1%) are less popular; they are mainly chosen by young Russians, those who have high level of education and those living on Moscow and St Petersburg.
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on June 28-30, 2017. The survey involved 1,800 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Results for the 2013-2016 studies are based on household surveys.
In your opinion, how much the ruble will be worth in three months/one year? (open-ended question, one answer for each line; answers of those who specified the value, rub.) | ||||||
| 25-26.VI.2016 | 22.I.2017** | 25-27.III.2017 | 25-27.IV.2017 | 30.V-1.VII.2017 | 28-30.VI.2017 |
Real value* | 66 | 60 | 57 | 56 | 57 | 59 |
In three months | 68 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 60 | 62 |
In a year | 69 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 60 | 64 |
*Russian Central Bank data for the given period
** Household survey data
Do you keep track of the dollar-to-ruble exchange rate, or not? (open-ended question one answer, % of respondents) | |||||||||
| VI.13 | VI.14 | VI.15 | VI.16 | I.17* | III.17 | IV.17 | V.17 | VI.17 |
Yes, regularly | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 18 |
Yes, sometimes | 33 | 37 | 35 | 31 | 31 | 42 | 42 | 41 | 40 |
No, I don’t | 55 | 47 | 46 | 50 | 53 | 42 | 38 | 40 | 42 |
Don’t know | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
*Household survey data
Can you tell us in what currency do you keep your savings? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, % of respondents) | ||||||||
| VII.13 | XI.14 | VI.15 | VI.16 | III.17 | IV.17 | V.17 | VI.17 |
Russian ruble | 49 | 47 | 54 | 57 | 59 | 63 | 66 | 63 |
US dollar | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Euro | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Other currency | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
No savings | 46 | 49 | 41 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!