2026-02-18 19:00
publication
2026-02-18 19:00
Americano in a popular Moscow cafe has gone up from 230 to 290 rubles since the beginning of this year. Just 22% in one month. the percentage of household budgets that Russians spend on food has increased – from 35,000 to rubles (approx. PLN 1,600) to 43 thousand rubles (approx. PLN 1,977). “Life is becoming more and more expensive,” Russians comment for the BBC on the fourth anniversary of Putin's “three-day special operation” in Ukraine.
The Russian economy is expected to oscillate around stagnation, but this may soon change radically due to the situation on the oil market (and the budget deficit largely depends on it), which rather indicates a declining phase for public finances. Borrowing “is complicated” due to high interest rates and reputation as an “unreliable” country.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, prices have been gradually increasing, which is, of course, due to the budget subordinated to warfare and the arms industry. This, in turn, led to rapid economic growth, translating into, among others, to increase the standard of living throughout the country (averaging, of course).
For a long time, residents of Russian metropolises such as Moscow and St. Petersburg did not feel the direct effects of inflation. High consumption effectively masked the economic costs of the conflict, Western restrictions and the lack of foreign capital. However, the situation changed in 2025, when the economy slowed down significantly and the real purchasing power of Russians began to decline.
The culmination occurred at the beginning of 2026 – Rosstat data indicate a drastic jump in the prices of basic necessities in just a few weeks. Everything became more expensive at the beginning of the year.
And so, according to data presented by the BBC based on the basket of goods offered in the Pyaterochka chain of stores in Moscow:
- potatoes went up in price by 167%. compared to 2024 prices;
- chocolate – by 125 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- Baltika beer – by 70 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- milk – by 167 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- Snickers bar – by 57 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- canned peas – by 55 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- soup (Chinese type) by Rollton – by 55 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- cheese – by 50 percent compared to 2024 prices;
- plain sliced bread – by 45 percent compared to 2024 prices.
In 2024, the basket cost 7,358 rubles (approx. PLN 295). Last month it cost 8,724 rubles (approx. PLN 399), which means an increase of over 18%. Customers of dairy departments experienced a real shock – prices there increased by as much as 41%. due to the crisis in domestic agriculture and the lack of labor. The increases also affected imported vegetables and fruit to a large extent (+15%), which is a direct result of the weak ruble.
The situation was made worse by the government's decision to increase VAT to 22%. from January 1, 2026 The Ministry of Finance does not hide it: :
higher taxes in stores are necessary to pay for continuing the war.
Russians increasingly have to dip into their savings to pay for food.
ed. aw
