In June, Vladimir Putin extended the embargo on the import of food products from the United States and countries belonging to the European Union to the Russian Federation for a year. For import into the country are prohibited: milk and dairy products, fresh and processed (salted, smoked, dried, frozen) meat of pigs and cattle, poultry products, seafood, nuts, fruits, fish, vegetables and various products from of the foregoing.
Perhaps the list, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture, will include flowers and various confectionery. The estimated total annual amount of imported goods that are banned is estimated at $ 9 billion (for comparison: product imports in 2014 totaled about $ 40 billion).
According to statistics from Rosstat, food prices in Russia for the first half of 2015 increased by 12.1%, which is 10 times higher than the European figure. In the first quarter, prices experienced explosive growth, in April they remained at the same level, and in May they even decreased by 0.1%. The increase in prices is due to the "weight loss" of the ruble and the reduction in supply. Out of stock purchased at lower prices, and products of domestic producers rose in price due to increased prices for raw materials. One of the reasons for the price increase was the increase in logistics costs. This is due to a change in suppliers.
Over the current year, food prices increased by 15%, but wages remained unchanged. The purchasing power of the population served as the limit for price increases: the food basket of Russians decreased significantly (for example, sales of meat and meat products decreased by 5%). Thus, a consequence of a fall in the purchasing power of the population may be that trade for some time will stop the increase in food prices due to the need to free overcrowded warehouses. Also, the effect of the new crop should have an effect. Therefore, the Ministry of Economic Development claims that the cost of food may decrease in the next two to three months by 2-2.5%.
Here are seven products whose prices have risen in Russia between January and May 2015.
7. Cheeses, eggs and dairy products
These products, which are always in high demand, have risen least in price. 5.7%.
6. Meat and various products thereof
For the pleasure of making barbecue, borsch with beef and other meat delights now you need to pay for 6.7% more.
5. Cereals and bakery products
“Bread and porridge is our food” (something without which it is difficult to imagine the everyday menu of Russians) rose in price by 11.2%.
4. Oils and various fats
Regular consumption of oil, perhaps, rounds the waist, but it definitely contributes to a significant reduction in the amount of money in the wallet. Oils and fats began to cost 13.6% more than last year.
3. Sweets
Delicious products that are designed to cheer up in 2015 only upset consumers. Chocolate, jams, sugar, sweets have risen in price on 14.3%.
2. Fish and seafood
Seafood in Russia rose in price by 17.4%.
1. Fruits and vegetables
Topped the top 7 most expensive products of 2015. Most of all, vegetables rose in price (by 26.7%). Fruits are not far behind: their prices jumped 24.9%.
