According to calculations by the analytics company “NTech,” published by “Kommersant,” the vegetables of the so-called borscht set, which form the basis of the daily diet of tens of millions of Russians, have increased in price by 20–40% over the past year.
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The leader in the inflation race was cabbage: at the end of August, a kilogram cost 30 rubles – 38% more than a year ago. Beets increased in retail by 32% (up to 35.4 rubles per kg), potatoes – 30% (up to 41.5 rubles per kg), onions – 32% (up to 45.2 rubles per kg), and carrots – 20% (up to 43.5 rubles per kg).
Stanislav Bogdanov, chairman of the Retail Trade Companies Association, notes that the prices of the borscht set reflect increased production costs: fuel and lubricants, seeds, fertilizers, and harvest storage have become significantly more expensive. Transportation costs have also risen, especially when transporting vegetables from southern regions to big cities.
Data from “Rosstat” confirms that despite seasonal price drops in summer, potatoes and cabbage have increased by 35.3% over the year, onions by 27.2%, beets by 20.4%, and carrots by 17.7%. According to official statistics, tomato prices have also risen rapidly: at the end of August, they cost 165.9 rubles per kg – 24.2% more than a year ago.
Vegetable price increases have outpaced inflation several times
The price growth of the borscht set outpaces official inflation by 3–6 times. Prices on store shelves are also driven by the fuel crisis: gasoline has already increased by more than 20% since the beginning of the year. According to “Freedom Global” analyst Vladimir Chernov, this factor is increasingly affecting transportation and other goods’ costs.
Food inflation is forcing Russian consumers to save. Last year, food expenses accounted for 39% of all household expenses – the largest share in the past 16 years. This year, residents have begun to reduce even these expenses.
According to “Evotor” company data, in the first half of the year, the number of purchases in so-called “home stores” decreased by 10%, and in specialized food stores by 5%. Large retail chains such as “Pyaterochka,” “Perekrestok,” and “Lenta” faced declining traffic, with higher-end shopping centers like “VkusVill” and “Azbuka Vkusa” feeling the impact most severely.
Dmitry Vostrikov, executive director of the “Rusprodsoyuz” association, states that most manufacturers are observing a decline in sales. Buyers are less likely to make impulse purchases, visit nearby stores less often, and increasingly choose low-price retail centers.
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