MOSCOW, December 16, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing in what mood Russians are meeting New Year and how they are planning to celebrate this holiday.

Social wellfare of Russians

The level of satisfaction with life made up 75% in November: 28% - quite satisfied (in the beginning of 2009 - 25%), 47% - partly satisfied (in January - 45%).  The percentage of those who are dissatisfied with their life has decreased compared to the previous year: 24% versus 29% in January.

The majority of Russians are not expecting their life to get worse next year: 28% forecast changes for the better (in January - 20%), 43% think everything will be the same (38% thought so in the beginning of this year). Compared to the beginning of 2009, the number of pessimists has decreased twice (from 24 to 12%).

Less Russians assess their financial well-being negatively: whereas 28-33% of Russians reported bad financial well-being in the beginning of 2009, the number of such respondents declined to 24% in November. On the contrary, the percentage of those who gave positive assessment has grown from 9 to 12% over the recent month. The percentage of Russians with average financial self-evaluation has also gone up over the recent half a year (from 59% in July to 63% in November).

Compared to spring this year, Russians give more positive assessment of economic situation in Russia: the share of those who evaluate the current economic situation as being good has grown from 5% in March to 9% in November. As before, the majority of Russians give average assessment (48%); 39% give negative answer (in March and April - 42-43%).

More Russians assess the political situation in the country as being average (from 54% in July to 59% in current month). The rest of respondents equally assess it as both good and bad (16% for each). The most positive assessments were recorded in May: 20% of respondents assessed political situation as good.

Every fourth respondent (24%) think things in the country are going in the right direction (compared to the beginning of 2009 - 18-19%). The percentage of those who partly agree with this statement has been growing over the recent months (from 42% in September to 49% in November). The proportion of those who oppose this statement is falling down (from 34% in April to 21% in November, in the beginning of 2009 - 27%).

The share of Russians negatively evaluating the situation in the country has decreased twice over the year: those who gave "bad" assessment were 58% in March, now they are only 32%. On the contrary, positive views have increased from 2% in March to 9% in November). Over half a year the predominant view has been that "everything is ok" (47-50%, in March - 29%).

Compared to March, there have been positive changes in public assessment of life: the proportion of those who think their life is good has increased from 19 to 25%. As before, the majority of respondents report that the living situation is hard, but they can tolerate this (61%). Those who cannot tolerate hardships are in the minority (10%).

Russians are more optimistic about their life changing for the better: the share of Russians who expect positive changes has increased over the recent five month from 25 to 38% and this is the first time this percentage is equaled to the percentage of Russians who do not expect any changes (40%). On the contrary, the share of those who forecast worsening of the situation is decreasing (in March - 20%, now - 11%). 

As before, the most popular strategy of behavior in terms of crisis has been active constructive position (48%). The proportion of those who think thing nothing should be done as they predict improvement of the situation has increased over the recent three months (from 19 to 24%). Eleven percent also has passive position because of the futility of their actions. Those who choose to resist are in the minority (7%).

Adaptation to the crisis is still under process: whereas 53% of respondents reported they had adapted to changes in March, now the share of such respondents has reached a maximum over the entire period of measurement (62%). Other 18% are going to adapt to the situation in the future. Those who report they will never get used to the changes are in the minority (13%, in September - 15%).

Rating of political institutions

D.Medvedev Confidence rating was fluctuating within 44-45% during autumn. This figure had steadily growth from April to August (from 42%) and reached a maximum over the year (47%).

President`s approval level made up 71-73% in autumn. The maximum was recorded in July-August (growth from 71 to 77%).

The level of trust in Putin has been the same and fluctuating within 54 to 55% over the recent three months. This number was growing from 52 to 57% from April to August and reached the highest point in January (60%).

The Prime-minister approval rating has also been stable during autumn (74-76%).  The highest jump in this indicator was recorded in July-August from 74 to 80%.

Government approval rating made up 51-54% in autumn. The approval growth of this political institution coincides with the President's and Prime-minister's approvals and recorded in July-August (growth from 51 to 59%).

Plans for New Year

Most of Russians (91%) are planning to celebrate New Year`s Eve - the number of such respondents has almost remained the same (in 1999 - 95%). Less number of persons (59%) is going to celebrate Orthodox Christmas on 7th of January (they were 69% in 1999). The Old New Year celebrated on 13th of January 2010 will be marked by 45% of respondents though they were 64% in 2002 and 58% in 1999. Only 5% of Russians are going to celebrate Catholic Christmas (there were 17-18% of such respondents in 1999 and 2002). Five percent report they are not planning to celebrate at all.

Most of Russians will meet New Year at home (75%). Twelve percent are going to visit friends (12%). Less popular answers were as follows: going to restaurant (2%), going to dacha and countryside (1% for each). However, 4% are not planning to celebrate New Year at all (the highest indicator over the entire measurement period; the percentage of such respondents did not exceed 2% in previous years).

About two-thirds of Russians are going to watch the New Year TV address of the president; more Russians reported so in 2009 compared to 1998 (73% versus 56% respectively). Every tenth refuse to watch TV address (36% in 1998).

The average sum of money Russians are going to spend on New Year celebration is growing year by year, especially money spent on food: compared to 2008, the average sum grew from 1.879 rubles to 2.116 rubles (in 2005 - 1155 rubles). The average cost of gifts has also risen - from 1.824 rubles to 2.058 rubles over the year (in 2005 - 1.105 rubles). As to other expenditures(New Year tree, tour packages, going to restaurants and theatres), there is a slight cost growth from 1.502 to 1.654 rubles over the year (in 2005 - 902 rubles).  

The most popular New Year gift over the recent years has been souvenirs (30%, a year ago - 37%), followed by candies, alcohol, delicatessen on the second place (24% versus 30% in 2008) and toys (23% versus 28% respectively). The third place is held by cosmetics, fragrances, accessories (20%). Eight percent of Russians are going to give money, 7% (for each group) - flowers and jewelry, 6% (for each) - audio and visual products, clothes and shoes, 5% - cellular phones, 4% - domestic appliances. Less popular gifts are theatre, cinema and concert tickets (2%), photo, audio and video equipment, computer, and tour packages (1% for each).  Eighteen percent are not planning to give presents to friends and relatives.  The number of persons who are undecided has grown (15% versus 9% in previous years).

Money (10%), jewelry, fragrances (cosmetics and accessories) (9% for each group) are the most demanded New Year presents Russians would like to get. Souvenirs and candies (delicatessen, alcohol) are things most of Russians prefer to give but rarer to get (7 and 4% respectively). Same thing refers to toys - only 1% of respondents would like them to have as a gift. Seven percent of respondents (for each) would like to get cellular phone or car as a present, 6% - tour package, 5% - clothes and shoes,  4% (for each) - flowers, domestic appliances, photo-, audio and video equipment, 3% (for each) - audio and visual products, concert (theatre) tickets  (or lunch at a restaurant). Seventeen percent report they do not want to be given New Year gifts; 25% were undecided.

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on December 12-13, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin oferror does not exceed 3.4 %.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!