Despite the depreciation of the Russian ruble, Russians do not abandon savings in national currency.

MOSCOW, January 16, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning what currency Russian choose for their savings, as well as whether they follow the exchange rate.

Currently, half of Russians (53%) do not have savings. Over the recent five years the share of respondents who have savings has increased from 36% in 2008 to 48% in 2013. Most of respondents who have savings keep them in national currency (40%). The shares of those who keep savings in dollar or euro are only 5% and 3%, respectively. People aged 60 and over tend to keep savings in rubles (45% and 35%, respectively).

Most of Russians (63%) would like to keep savings in rubles. Since the world crisis has started the share of respondents who give the same answer has almost not changed. Russian rubles are chosen by women (67%), residents of middle cities (74%), and elderly respondents (77%). One in ten respondents (10%) prefer euro; 9% opt for dollar.

Asked whether they follow the dollar exchange rate, respondents were almost equally divided. Forty-nine percent of Russians follow the dollar exchange rate, and 50% do not.  In the previous years the same data were obtained. Those who track the exchange rate regularly are respondents with high level of income (23%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (19%), and middle-aged Russians (17% 35-44-year-old respondents).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on November 30-December 1, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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!