Russian rouble is falling because of new anti-Russia sanctions, most of Russians think.
MOSCOW, April 18, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a study devoted to the situation in the exchange market.
A considerable rise of the US dollar/euro which started last week did not spread panic among the public: 60% of Russians are not worried about that. Two-thirds (65%) are not going to take any actions even if the US dollar continues rising.
Anxiety related to the rising foreign currencies is expressed by 36% of respondents. Compared to the sample mean, this share is much higher among Muscovites and Petersburgians (46%), respondents who assess their income as low (46%) and those who follow the US dollar exchange rate (49%).
According to many respondents, foreign currencies are rising in value because of the international political situation. About one-quarter of respondents (23%) consider that anti-Russia sanctions cause the dollar/euro exchange rates to rise.
In case US dollar keeps rising, 12% will opt for spending money on everyday needs, 8% will invest in real estate or other valuable items.
An overwhelming majority (94%) has not purchased any currencies over the recent month or two.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 12-13, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 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 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2011-2015 results are based on household surveys.
Are you worried about the current US dollar/euro rise? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents, 2018 | Persons who assess their financial income as very high or high | Persons who assess their financial income as average | Persons who assess their financial income as low or very low |
Definitely yes | 14 | 12 | 13 | 18 |
Rather yes | 22 | 20 | 21 | 28 |
Rather no | 28 | 33 | 29 | 22 |
Definitely no | 32 | 32 | 33 | 29 |
Don’t know | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
US dollar and euro rise in value, while the Russian rouble to US dollar/euro exchange rate is falling. In your opinion, what is it caused by? (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of all respondents) | |
| Total respondents, 2018 |
Sanctions against Russia | 23 |
International political situation | 8 |
Changing oil prices | 6 |
Russian economy | 6 |
Artificial weakening of US dollar exchange rate | 4 |
Russia’s politics | 3 |
Russia’s dependence on energy | 3 |
Stock traders | 3 |
U.S. policy | 2 |
Measures of the Central Bank of Russia | 2 |
Unstable Russian rouble exchange rate | 2 |
Aggravation of the Syrian situation | 1 |
Capital outflow | 1 |
The government took the wrong actions | 1 |
Russia’s dependence on US dollar | 1 |
Situation in the global financial market | 1 |
An attempt to help businessmen under sanctions | 1 |
I do not see any rouble decrease | 2 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 46 |
If the US dollar keeps rising, what will you do? (closed-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents, 2018 | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
I will change Russian roubles to US dollars | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
I will buy real estate or other valuable items | 8 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
I will spend my savings on small purchases and everyday needs | 12 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 6 |
I will not do anything special | 66 | 53 | 57 | 62 | 67 | 76 |
Other | 5 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Don’t know | 7 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Have you bought foreign currencies over the recent month or two? If yes, what currency? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| X.2011 | VII.2013 | II.2014 | XI.2014 | I.2015 | IV.2018 |
Yes, I have bought US dollars | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
Yes, I have bought Euro | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
No, I have not bought any currency | 92 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 95 | 94 |
Yes, I have bought other currency | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Don’t know | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
* Up to 2015 the question was asked about one month.
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!