The Russians began to save on food and buy "what is cheaper" more often

Yekaterina Maksimova

In the report of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, which was based on data from a survey of the population, it is reported that 26% of respondents over the past month began to "buy products and goods that are cheaper than before". 20% of citizens who took part in the opinion poll answered that they began to buy less often or refuse certain foodstuffs, goods, services, entertainment. Another 22% of Russians confirmed that they "began to look for better-paid jobs, additional earnings". A total of 10% of respondents admitted that they started taking loans and borrowing money from relatives and friends.

The question, to which the inhabitants of Russia answered in this way in September, sounded like this: "which of the following did you (members of your family) start doing in the last month? They started doing it - that is, they didn't do it in previous months".

Lack of money even for food is experienced by 7% of respondents. This figure has not changed since August, when the same 7% responded in the same way. Those who have enough money for food, but not enough to buy clothes and shoes, turned out to be 25% (24% in August). Another 36% of respondents, due to lack of money, refuse only to buy large household appliances. And only 3% of Russians (4% in August) do not experience financial difficulties at all and are even ready to invest in buying an apartment or house.

When asked how the financial situation of your family has changed, a third of the respondents (31%) thought that the situation had worsened. Exactly the same number of Russians surveyed in August responded in the same way. 53% believe that nothing has changed in their lives. And 14% of respondents answered that their financial situation has improved.

Citizens participating in the survey included meat/poultry, drugs/medicines, sugar/salt, tea/coffee, household chemicals, milk/dairy products, fish/seafood, cheese/sausage, bread/ bakery products, housing and communal services.

The survey, the results of which were published by the Central Bank, involved 2020 people from 105 settlements in 55 regions of the Russian Federation.

About similar "autumn" reports from the Central Bank readers of "NI" in the summer warned heavyweight economists. Doctor of Economic Sciences Yevgeny Gontmakher , in an interview with our publication , assessed the prospects for the crisis as follows: “ Our current slide down is a gradual transition to the survival of many families. Moreover, survival is so literal when people will count every penny. When families begin to refuse to buy the most necessary - from clothes, shoes. They will refuse some services. Well, they cut their own hair, do not use dry cleaning, do not go to cafes and restaurants where some people are used to going. This will no longer be available to many. " The expert then emphasized that this trend will begin to intensify in the fall. “Autumn-winter. Summer always softens the situation, people are sitting in the country, the weather is good. By autumn, this will be absolutely obvious, even in Moscow,” Gontmakher warned.

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economics Abel Aganbegyan believes that 18% of Russians already live at a beggarly level. Their income is below the living wage.

“They can’t go to a regular Pyaterochka and pay for what they like. They have to choose food because they can’t afford to eat meat every day. 11.5 thousand. Of these - utilities. On average, according to research, this category takes 16% to pay for housing. 9.5 thousand rubles are left for a month! Approximately 300 rubles a day - for all remaining expenses", - the academician explained and added that the more "well-fed" middle class would also switch to the economy mode.