Sharp increase of food prices in recent months makes every fifth Russian switch to cheaper items or refuse to buy certain products.
MOSCOW, February 19, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) data concerning the attitudes of Russians towards increasing prices for different services and goods, as well as the way how Russians economize.
Three-quarter of Russians do shopping and housekeeping independently (76%): including 38% of those who do it on their own and 38% of those who share these duties with family members. Women (89%) and elderly respondents (78% of persons aged over 60) do that more often than men (60%) and young respondents (57% of persons aged 18-24). Twenty-three percent of respondents are not bothered about these duties.
According to respondents, the prices for goods and services have considerably increased over half a year. The trend of rising prices touched primarily vegetables, fruits, sugar and meat (91%, 90% and 89%, respectively); the price indices* are 79, 78 and 76 p. In contrast, the indicator showing the perception of the increase of prices for fruits and vegetables made up 45 p. in September 2015.
An overwhelming majority of Russians notice rising prices for pasta goods and cereals (index – 71 p.) and dairy products (index – 68 p.; 54 p. in September 2014). Eighty-five percent of Russians complain that they have to pay more for bread (41% report sharp increase of prices; 44% report small increase); the index is equal to 61 p which is a 1.5 increase over half a year (from 38 p.).
Increase of tariffs for housing and utility services is cited by three-quarter of Russians (75%), including 45% of those who notice substantial increase of prices; remarkably, over the recent six months the situation has not changed much (the share of such respondents was 77% in September 2014); the index was 58 p. The same thing can be said of gasoline: more than half of respondents notice an increase of prices (60% in autumn; 61% today); the indices showing the perception of inflation make up 46 and 45 p. (respectively). According to 60% of respondents, transport tariffs have also grown up (index – 43 p.); at the same time, 24% of Russians did not mention any increase of ticket prices.
Every fifth Russian reports to have switched to more cheaper products (20%) or to have refused to buy certain goods (23%). Every sixth started to do so six months ago (16% and 18%), and another one-fifth of Russians did it more than half a year ago (22% and 21%). No any other actions were used to respond to the situation. Some respondents buy products for future use (today 39%) or grow their own vegetables and fruits (33%). About one-third search for a high paid job or a side job (33%), or spend their savings on everyday needs (30%). One-quarter of respondets borrow money from friends (24%); one-fifth of respondents get credit from bank (22%). And finaly, only 13% save up in foreign currency, and 11% sell property or valuable personal items.
*Price increase shows the perception of inflation by Russians. It is calculated as a difference between positive and negative answers to the question “How would you assess the increase of prices for the following goods and services over the recent one or two months?”. If the answer is “prices have considerably decreased”, the coefficient is (-1); “prices have decreased but not considerably” - (-0,5)’ “prices have increased but not considerably” – (0.5)’ “prices have considerably increased” – (1); “prices have not changed” – (0) .The index is measured in points and can vary between -100 and 100. The higher the value of index is, the higher the inflation is.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on January 31-February 1, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Who is responsible for shopping and housekeeping in your family? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||
| IX.2014 | II.2015 |
Me myself | 45 | 38 |
Me and other family members | 37 | 38 |
Other family members; I do not take part | 18 | 23 |
Don`t know | <1 | 1 |
How would you estimate the prices for the following goods and services in recent two or three months? | ||||||||||||||
| Prices have considerably decreased | Prices have decreased but not considerably | Prices have not changed | Price have increased but not considerably | Prices have considerably increased | Don`t know | Index* | |||||||
| IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 | IX.14 | II.15 |
Fruits and vegetables | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 3 | 39 | 21 | 29 | 70 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 79 |
Sugar** | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | - | 21 | - | 69 | - | 5 | - | 78 |
Meat/meat products | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 30 | 21 | 55 | 68 | 2 | 5 | 69 | 76 |
Cereals/ pasta goods** | - | 1 | - | <1 | - | 5 | - | 30 | - | 57 | - | 6 | - | 71 |
Dairy products | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 5 | 43 | 35 | 34 | 52 | 3 | 5 | 54 | 68 |
Bakery products | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 9 | 42 | 44 | 18 | 41 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 61 |
Housing and utility services | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 39 | 30 | 38 | 45 | 4 | 5 | 56 | 58 |
Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 27 | 34 | 34 | 29 | 24 | 46 | 45 |
Transport tickets** | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 24 | - | 30 | - | 30 | - | 14 | - | 43 |
**There were no such options in September 2014
Some Russians believe that the economic crisis has come;they started to economize, borrow money and make savings. Which of the following have you/your family members done and for how long? (closed-ended question, one answer по каждой строке) | |||||
We started to do that | This is what we have been doing over recent months | This is what we have been doing for more than six months | We do not do this | Don`t know | |
To buy cheaper products and goods | 20 | 16 | 22 | 38 | 4 |
To buy less of refuse to buy certain products, services et cet. | 23 | 18 | 21 | 34 | 4 |
To buy for future use | 10 | 12 | 17 | 56 | 5 |
To search for high paid job, side job, to carry out business activities | 8 | 11 | 14 | 62 | 5 |
To spend savings on everyday needs | 9 | 10 | 11 | 66 | 5 |
To borrow money from friends and relatives | 5 | 8 | 12 | 70 | 5 |
To borrow money from a bank; to buy goods on credit | 3 | 6 | 13 | 74 | 4 |
To get help from friends and relatives without consideration | 4 | 6 | 12 | 72 | 5 |
To grow more fruits and vegetables, to raise poultry; to make more provisions | 3 | 8 | 22 | 62 | 5 |
To save up in foreign currency (dollars, euro et cet.), to deposit to foreign currency account | 2 | 5 | 6 | 82 | 5 |
To sell valuable items (car, apartment, dacha) or personal belongings (cloths, books, domestics appliances) | 2 | 4 | 5 | 85 | 5 |
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