Actuality November, 2, 2007

The All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (ARPORC) presents the facts, how Russians estimate inflation as a whole and a price rise of food products in particular. What causes of inflation do they see

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The number of the interviewees estimating inflation in the country as very high has increased for three months, from July till October, 2007, by 30% (from 52% to 82%). At the same time the amount of those who consider a price rise reasonable or very slight has decreased (from 8% to 1% and from 35% to 13% accordingly).

In comparison with the last year the number of the respondents connecting the causes of inflation with avidity of dealers and manufacturers, monopolization (from 7 % to 12 %), import of foreign production (from 2 % to 7 %) has increased. At the same time the amount of those, who explains inflation by inactivity and irresponsibility of authorities (from 13 % to 8 %), by price rise of oil and other energy carriers (from 11 % to 3 %), of gasoline (from 8 % to 1 %), by undeveloped economy (from 8 % to 4 %) has decreased. It is difficult to mark out the causes of inflation for every second.

According to the estimation of 38% of interviewees, the prices for products which they usually buy have increased by 20-25%. The prices have increased at least twice in opinion of 32% of respondents. Public opinion marked out price rise by 10-15% on the average even three months ago.

The most tangible for Russians is a price rise of dairy products and seed-oil (74%) and 82% of interviewees fix a significant price rise of these kinds of products (for comparison, three months ago a significant price rise on dairy products said only 26% polled). Also 56% of interviewees specify an essential price rise on meat and meat products, 48-49% mentioned bakery products, and also groats and macaroni, 41% mentioned vegetables and fruits.

Only 5% of interviewees spend less than a quarter

of family budget for food expenditures.

29 % spend 25-49% of their incomes for meal, 60% spend over half of family income for meal, including 18%, where almost all incomes are spent for meal (75% and moreover). In spite of a price rise of products, the share including products expenditures of the Russian family budget has not yet changed.

Every second interviewee is going to limit the product expenditures.

One third of respondents (34%) points out, that the price rise of products will cause a loss to the family budget, but will not influence their meal.

The part of those who is going to limit the diet is 30 % in Moscow and St.

Petersburg; it is 46-50% in large and average cities and 57-60% in small cities, villages.

The majority of interviewees (75 %) considers that such price rise of products should have been prevented (from 57% in a group of those who treat themselves as endowing, about 86 % among poorly provided group). 15% of interviewees believe, that this price rise is caused by objective reasons, and 5% suppose that this is because of natural instability of prices.

Initiative All-Russian poll of ARPORC was conducted on October, 20-21, 200. There were 1600 people interviewed in 153 settlements, in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3,4 %.