MOSCOW, August 15, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians estimate the price increase in the country and the price increase on foodstuff in particular, what reasons they see for it.
No more than 5% of the respondents today spend less than one fourth of their family budget on food. One third of the respondents (32%) give out 25-49% of their incomes on food. Still more respondents (41%) spend 50-74% of their incomes. And, lastly, 16% of the respondents give out nearly all their incomes -75% and more - on food. The situation has not changed much within the last two years: the share of those, who "eat up" more than three quarters of their family budget reaches 27% in the group with minimum incomes (up to 1500 rubles per family member per month); and amounts to10% in the group with the incomes of more than 5000 rubles per family member per month.
15% of the respondents have noticed a 5% price increase on products that they normally buy; the relative majority (41%) speak about an increase in prices of 10-15%. Another 20% of respondents indicate the inflation of 20-25%, and 5% of respondents assume that the prices have become two times and more higher than they used to be. Only 4% note that the prices for popular articles remained unchanged, and less than 1% indicate a reduction in prices. Products that enjoy the demand of the population groups with lowest financial standing have changed their prices most noticeably: 8% in this group identify that the prices have become twice as high or more. Only 2-3% in the groups with high and middle financial standing assume that, whereas a price increase of 20-25% is seen by 27% and 17-20% of respondents respectively.
87% of Russians noticed an increase in prices for the bakery products within the last couple of months. This includes 43% of those who speak about a significant cost-increase. 77% of respondents indicate an increase in prices for flour, cereals, macaroni; 72% mention meat and meat foods, 68% the dairy products. It is interesting to note, that more than half of respondents, 61%, identify an increase in prices for fruits and vegetables, and only 8% note a reduction in prices on them in the middle of the summer season. Less than 1% of respondents indicate a price reduction on other groups of products.
18% of respondents associate a sharp increase in prices for bread with bad weather conditions; the increase is a little less often explained by an increase in prices for gasoline; for grain (7-8%); by the greediness of businesspersons; by corrupted authorities (5-6%), by their insufficiently considered policy, and by the general disruption in agriculture (3-4%). The respondents, who approve of the activity of V.Putin as President, find weather conditions to be a more convincing reason for an increase in prices for bread, than those, who do not approve of V.Putin's political activity (20% against 12%), whereas President's opponents mention insufficiently considered policy of the authorities more frequently (11%).
The All-Russia opinion polls were conducted by VCIOM in July 28-29. 1600 respondents were interviewed each of these times in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.
Try to estimate what share food expenses constitute in your general family income. | ||
| November 19-20, 2005 | July 28-29, 2007 |
Less than 25% | 7 | 5 |
25-49% | 33 | 32 |
50-74% | 40 | 41 |
75% and more | 16 | 16 |
Hard to say | 4 | 6 |
Try to estimate what share food expenses constitute in your general family income. | |||||
| Total respondents | Income per family member per month, rubles | |||
Up to 1500 | 1501-3000 | 3001-5000 | 5001 and more | ||
Less than 25% | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
25-49% | 32 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 42 |
50-74% | 41 | 37 | 39 | 47 | 38 |
75% and more | 16 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 10 |
Hard to say | 6 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
How do you think did the prices for food that you normally buy increase in your city? | ||||
| Total respondents | Estimation of own financial standing | ||
Very high, high | Middle | Low, very low | ||
The prices remained unchanged | 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
By 5% | 15 | 22 | 15 | 11 |
By 10% | 24 | 24 | 26 | 20 |
By 15% | 17 | 15 | 16 | 19 |
By 20% | 12 | 14 | 11 | 15 |
By 25% | 8 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
By 50% | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
More than by 50% | 1 | - | 0 | 1 |
There was a reduction in prices | 0 | 1 | - | - |
Hard to say | 15 | 11 | 16 | 13 |
How would you characterize the price increase on food products of the last month or two? | |||||
| Bakery products | Flour, cereals, macaroni | Dairy produce | Meat and meat foods | Fruits and Vegetables |
The prices were significantly reduced | - | - | - | 0 | 1 |
The prices were reduced, but insignificantly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
The prices remained unchanged | 9 | 11 | 20 | 15 | 19 |
There was an insignificant price increase | 44 | 40 | 42 | 38 | 32 |
There was a significant price increase | 43 | 37 | 26 | 34 | 29 |
Hard to say | 4 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
Many people are now preoccupied with a sharp price increase for bread. What do you think was the main reason for this increase of prices for bread? (Free-answer question, one answer possible) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who approve/ disapprove of V.Putin's political activity | ||
Those who approve of it | Those who disapprove of it | Those who cannot provide a definite answer | ||
Due to bad weather conditions there is going to be a lean year | 19 | 20 | 12 | 16 |
An increase in prices for oil, gasoline | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
An increase in prices for grain | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
The greediness of businessmen, intentional overpricing | 6 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
Corrupted authorities who indulge in speculations | 5 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
There is no one willing to work in the country, agriculture is disrupted | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
Insufficiently considered policy of the authorities | 3 | 3 | 11 | 2 |
economic recession | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 | - | 2 |
Hard to say | 45 | 45 | 38 | 47 |